An individual who most recently held the title of Executive Director for natural history and conservation media organization Jackson Wild has been handed the key role of leading the development and execution of PBS’s programming strategy focused on science, natural history, history, and arts genres.
PBS is hiring Geoff Daniels as VP of Programming & Development.
At Jackson Wild, Daniels led year-round programming for the Jackson, Wyo.-based non-profit while directing the organization’s vision and strategy. But, before joining Jackson Wild, Daniels served as Executive VP of Unscripted Entertainment for the London-based production company Nutopia. There, he was tasked with overseeing programming and marketing while expanding factual formats and executive producing series, including “7 Toughest Days with Dwyane Fields,” “Rewind the 90s,” and “Shark Beach.”
Before that, Daniels served as Exec. Vice President of Global Unscripted Entertainment for National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, and Nat Geo on Disney + — perhaps a key resumé highlight that attracted PBS’s interest. There, Daniels managed all original content and commissioned such series as Chris Hemsworth’s “Limitless,” “Secrets of the Whales,” and “The World According to Jeff Goldblum.”
In 2010, Daniels led the launch of Nat Geo WILD.
“We are thrilled to welcome Geoff to PBS,” said Sylvia Bugg, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager of General Audience Programming at PBS. “He has a passion for finding stories that truly illuminate the world around us, and his expertise will help bring new productions to every platform where viewers seek out PBS content. Geoff’s leadership ensures that we will continue to engage audiences in a way that inspires wonder while reflecting a variety of lived experiences.”
Daniels commented, “I couldn’t be more excited to join such an exceptional team who are building on PBS’s legacy of innovative programming and its inspiring mission to serve the public good. We will deliver the bold stories with the power to bring audiences together and impact our culture for the better in ways that few other media organizations can.”
Daniels began his career in new product development at Time-Life Video & Television, where he played a key role in building it into a leading home video distributor.
