Ford Pulls Out of Discovery
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 2/6/2003 1:50:00 PM
Executive defections continue at Discovery Networks U.S., as veteran John Ford will soon become the latest to leave the programmer.
Ford, a 13-year company veteran, told Discovery brass Thursday that he would resign his current position as president, new media, effective Valentine's Day (Feb. 14).
A Discovery spokeswoman said a successor would be named in the coming weeks.
Ford, who has held his current post since June, joined Discovery Channel as vice president, corporate partnerships in 1989.
He subsequently held a number of leadership positions and was tapped to relaunch The Learning Channel as the network's general manager after its purchase by Discovery Communications Inc. in 1991.
He also launched Discovery Health Channel and discoveryhealth.com (health.discovery.com ) in 1999 and presided over them for two years. During his tenure, rival channel The Health Network was bought in 2001.
Ford then became president of Discovery Networks' content group, where he oversaw programming for all Discovery domestic television networks and Discovery.com (www.discovery.com ).
Observers said Ford was a candidate to succeed Johnathan Rodgers, who left as Discovery Networks president in March 2002. The position went to Billy Campbell last spring.
In addition to Rodgers, Discovery has seen several of its long-standing veterans depart over the past two years.
Last April, Jana Bennett, who had been executive vice president at TLC, rejoined the British Broadcasting Corp. Roger Marmet, who had been serving as interim GM, finally got the promotion last month.
Former Discovery Channel GM Mike Quattrone, his wife Kathy (who had been GM of Discovery Health) and Charley Humbard, who had led the company's digi-nets, have also departed
Ford, who was speaking on a panel Thursday afternoon, was not immediately available for comment.
The Discovery spokeswoman said Ford noted that with Discovery HD Theater up and running, it was a good time to leave. She added that Ford indicated that he would take a rest before making his next career decision.
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