Barnett recruits Rodrigue for BBC America post

Sarah Barnett has brought SundanceTV colleague Nena Rodrigue to US cable channel BBC America.

Rodrigue will be executive VP, original programming, acquisitions and production at the channel, which AMC Networks operates after taking a 49.9% stake from BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm.

The hire reunites her with Sarah Barnett, who was installed as president of BBC America following the AMC acquisition. The pair worked together at AMC-owned SundanceTV, with Rodrigue holding the post of senior VP, programming and production, and Barnett running the channel as president.

“Nena is a highly sophisticated programming executive, with a creative vision that will be invaluable for BBC America’s next phase of growth,” said Barnett.

“Nena has helped drive SundanceTV’s evolution as a distinctive player in the scripted drama space, and she has played a key role in multiple SundanceTV-BBC coproductions.”

Rodrigue will continue to oversee SundanceTV development and production for an interim period while a successor is found.

Before SundanceTV in March 2013, Rodrigue held posts at Dick Wolf’s Wolf Films, Touchstone TV, Imagine Television, Witt-Thomas Productions, and in Fox’s alternative TV division.

BBC America’ original programming push, which began under Barnett’s predecessor Perry Simon, has spawned shows such as Copper (pictured)and Almost Royal.

SundanceTV’s originals include BBC copros such as The Honourable Woman, and others such as ITV Studios-produced drama Rectify.