New York, NY (May 14, 2018) – AMC Networks today announced Jennifer Caserta has been named Chief Transformation Officer of the company. Caserta, formerly President and General Manager of AMC Networks’ comedy network IFC, will now report to Josh Sapan, AMC Networks President and CEO, and will continue to be based in New York. IFC’s Executive Vice President of Brand Marketing, Blake Callaway, has been named Executive Vice President and Acting General Manager of IFC, overseeing IFC’s marketing, publicity, scheduling and acquisitions.
In this newly-created position, Caserta is responsible for driving and facilitating organizational structures and strategies that will best position AMC Networks to continue its track record of innovation in storytelling, story formats, new products, distribution and advertising, across its portfolio.
“We have been focused on diversifying our business in ways that enable us to seize new opportunities and achieve long-term growth, and are already seeing this effort translating into business results. This new role will help ensure we are positioned to take advantage of opportunities as our business continues to evolve,” said Josh Sapan, President and CEO, AMC Networks. “Jen’s deep understanding of the business, her superb leadership and management skills, and track record of successfully transforming brands and creating new business models, make her uniquely qualified to take on this important new role.”
“I am excited to take on this new role that is critical to how the company will evolve in a changing environment,” said Caserta. “My passion and experience with creative innovation and transformation, company culture, and the ability to grow and find new ways of engaging audiences has prepared me for this next step at AMC Networks. I am incredibly proud to have led the team at IFC, transforming the brand into a smart, relevant, highly-acclaimed home for slightly off comedy, and I know that there is nobody better than Blake Callaway to take on this mantle.”
As president and general manager of IFC, Caserta played a leading role in transforming IFC from a niche indie film channel to an advertiser-supported network and one of the most well-known, respected brands in comedy. Caserta has earned an industry-wide reputation for her ability to attract both world-class and emerging comedic talent and for its smart, alternative comedy, with critically-acclaimed, culturally-resonant original series including Brockmire with Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet; Documentary Now!, from creators Bill Hader, Fred Armisen and Seth
Myers; and the recently-concluded long-running series Portlandia with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.
Through her role at IFC, Caserta also has been integral to driving AMC Networks’ expansion into new comedy formats and content areas. Caserta was the key architect of the company’s strategic partnership with Funny or Die, a premiere entertainment brand and production studio that creates award-winning comedy for a global audience and, more recently, with Levity Live, owner of an expansive network of comedy venues in the U.S. Caserta is currently on the board of each company and will remain as she takes on this new position within AMC Networks.
Acting General Manager Blake Callaway, along with IFC’s Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production, Pete Aronson, will report to AMC Networks COO Ed Carroll.
“Jen has done a spectacular job at IFC with programming that consistently breaks through and resonates broadly in pop culture,” said Ed Carroll. “Blake and Pete are proven leaders who have helped guide the business for many years and I look forward to working with them more closely.”
Said Callaway, “Great thanks to Jen for her incredible leadership at IFC. I’m thrilled to be stepping up at such an exciting time at the channel.”
Callaway joined IFC in 2011 as Senior Vice President of Marketing, and has launched successful marketing campaigns including Brockmire, Portlandia, and Documentary Now! He is an established brand builder, who is equally focused on creating new opportunities to drive revenue. Callaway was instrumental in helping cement IFC as the “Always On, Slightly Off” home for fresh, unexpected comedies. Prior to IFC, Callaway served as Syfy’s senior vice president, brand and strategic marketing.
Pete Aronson currently oversees IFC’s growing line-up of original comedic programming, with a long career leading production and development at studios in broadcast, cable, syndicated television, digital and feature films.
About AMC Networks
Dedicated to producing quality programming and content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in entertainment. AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The Company also operates BBC America through a joint venture with BBC Worldwide. In addition, the Company operates two subscription video on demand services,
Sundance Now, dedicated to prestige TV series, films and documentaries, and Shudder, for fans of thriller, suspense and horror programming; and AMC Networks International, its global division. For more information, please visit www.amcnetworks.com.
About IFC
IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Series Brockmire, Stan Against Evil, Baroness von Sketch Show and Documentary Now! air alongside fan-favorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. IFC is Always On, Slightly Off.