Kevin Reilly Splits Management Teams at TNT & TBS

02.03.2015

Kevin Reilly, newly appointed president of TNT/TBS and chief creative officer of Turner Entertainment, announced management changes on Tuesday for both cable networks.

The new leadership will effectively split management of original productions at TNT and TBS in an effort to expand in-house production.

Sandra Dewey has been promoted, and will now be president of TNT and TBS productions and business affairs. In her new role, she will also continue to lead productions for other Turner channels including Cartoon Network, truTV and Turner Classic Movies. Dewey has been with the company for more than 20 years and was previously EVP, head of business affairs at Turner Entertainment Networks and Cartoon Network Originals, a position she's held since 2012. Dewey has led the business campaign for TNT's Falling Skies, worked as chief negotiator in that deal that brought Conan O'Brien to TBS and has her hand in the business end of several successful series including The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles.

Sarah Aubrey will head TNT Originals in the new team, tasked with creating a new slate of original programming aligned with the TNT brand aimed at a younger audience. Aubrey comes from Peter Berg's Film 44 where she worked on projects such as Friday Night Lights, The Leftovers and Lone Survivor.

Brett Weitz will oversee TBS Originals, where he is responsible for making the channel a "destination for originals marked by a bold sensibility" with a more social and digital focus. Weitz was previously SVP of development at TNT and TBS, working on dramas such as Falling Skies, Rizzoli & Isles and Dallas.

The new management system is meant to prepare both networks for an aggressive campaign with new original series aimed at younger, socially driven audiences who can come to recognize both channels as distinct on-air brands.

"Over the next couple of years, we will continue to sharpen and evolve our brands by doubling down on original programming and being tenacious about our networks' value proposition," said Reilly. "These leadership appointments are the important first step in that direction. With Sandra overseeing business affairs and our growing slate of in-house productions, Sarah joining us to make TNT originals even more distinct and valuable and Brett focusing on both growing and further defining TBS originals, we have a great team of stewards to shepherd this transformation."