National Geographic Announces Promotions

National Geographic Channels is expanding its global development staff and heading West under former Fox Reality Channel president David Lyle, who will oversee its new West Coast Development Office.

Lyle, a former president of Fox Look, which focused on international licensing and production of scripted programming, will work with Bridget Whalen Hunnicutt, who Thursday was upped to senior vp global development, reporting to Steve Burns, exec vp global content. Hunnicutt will be responsible for developing more than 400 hours of original programming per year; she has overseen Alaska State Troopers, Locked Up Abroad and the Aftermath franchise.

Charlie Parsons also was named vp global development, responsible for developing new projects and discovering talent, while Michael Mavretic and Shannon Malone were both upped to directors of global development.

“Our very talented development team is a force within the nonfiction arena and already has highly productive relationships with top producers around the world as well as the West Coast,” National Geographic Channels U.S. president Steve Schiffman said in a statement announcing the moves.