Cable Shuffle: Wachtel, McCumber Named USA Network Co-Presidents
There are more executive changes at NBC Universal's big cable network: USA Network has named network veterans Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel as its co-presidents.
Both will report to Bonnie Hammer, now chairman, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios. She previously had the top post at USA Network.
Wachtel, who has been the network's most senior programming executive, and McCumber, who has been the network's most senior marketing executive, will jointly oversee strategic direction and operations across all platforms for USA, the top-rated cable network for five consecutive years.
McCumber -- who had been executive vice president of marketing, digital and brand strategy since December 2007 -- has led USA's "Characters Welcome" brand push in recent years. He is also in charge of new business development and all WWE programming across the networks.
As president of original programming, Wachtel has overseen development of all high-rated original programming for USA. This includes "Burn Notice," "Royal Pains," "White Collar," "Covert Affairs," "Psych," "In Plain Sight", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," and "Fairly Legal" and the upcoming "A Legal Mind" and "Necessary Roughness."
Wachtel remains co-head of original content, Universal Cable Productions. He joined USA in 2001 as executive vice president of series and long-form programming.
"USA will remain a top priority for me, and I can't think of a better team to build on the network's incredible momentum," said Hammer. "Not only have Chris and Jeff performed consistently at the top of their games, their collaborative style is a critical part of USA's DNA and a key component of the network's success."
Hammer became chairman of NBCU's cable entertainment and cable studios two months ago -- as part of the Comcast Corp. takeover of NBC Universal. She is now responsible for E! Entertainment and G4, as well her existing oversight of USA, Syfy, Chiller, Sleuth, Universal HD and Universal Cable Productions. She took over the top post at USA Network in 2004, after working as president of Syfy since 2001.
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