Ex-E! chief emerges at Discovery

Former E! Entertainment Network president Suzanne Kolb has joined cable giant Discovery Communications to oversee its 70-plus web-native brands and series.

Kolb has been named executive VP and general manager of Discovery Digital Networks, effective immediately.

She will report to the EVP and GM of Discovery’s digital media arm, Karen Leever, who said: “We are very fortunate to have Suzanne leading Discovery Digital Networks – networks that engage millennials and offer meaningful opportunities for advertisers and partners wanting to reach them.”

DDN, based in San Francisco, operates digital brands including multichannel network Revision3, educational app TestTube, animals-focused network Animalist and digital channels group DeFranco Networks. It also houses Discovery VR and social partnerships.

Kolb left NBCUniversal Lifestyle Group-owned E!, which targets millennial-age audiences with a mix of celebrity-focused and reality series, the fall of 2014.

Long-serving NBCU exec Frances Berwick replaced her, taking control of the then-new NBCU Lifestyle Group.

At E!, Kolb was credited for launching key programmes such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Chelsea Lately and Total Divas, and also greenlit its first scripted series, The Royals.

She had joined E! in 2005 after a period working as senior VP, marketing for broadcast network The WB.

She will divide her time at Discovery between the firm’s LA and San Francisco offices.