TLC NAMES HOWARD LEE SVP, PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

TLC GM Amy Winter today announced that Discovery Communications veteran Howard Lee has been named Senior Vice President, Production & Development. Lee, based in the company's Silver Spring, MD headquarters, will oversee the network's bicoastal production team, and report to Winter.

"Howard has been the driving force for some of TLC's most successful programming choices, including fan-favorite Cake Boss and the groundbreaking Sister Wives," said Winter. "He is skilled at heartfelt storytelling and creating remarkable real-life characters, and he'll be instrumental in moving the network forward."

Lee most recently served as the Vice President, Production & Development, East Coast for TLC. He joined the network in 2009 and was part of the team that managed the final season of JON & KATE PLUS 8. He helped strengthen the network's presence in key genres like food with CAKE BOSS, NEXT GREAT BAKER and DC CUPCAKES, weddings with FOUR WEDDINGS, and family with SISTER WIVES. He also launched and Executive Produces two of the network's biggest pop culture successes, TODDLERS & TIARAS and THE LITTLE COUPLE.

Previously, Lee served as Vice President of Development and Production, East Coast for the launch of Planet Green. His responsibilities included developing relationships with a range of producers and production companies to fuel a diverse offering of entertaining green lifestyle content, including EMERIL GREEN with Emeril Lagasse. Prior to Planet Green, Lee oversaw development for the Travel Channel, including "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" and leading the inception of numerous hit series, including the Emmy award-winning Great Hotels, and the Emmy Award-winning Passport To Europe With Samantha Brown.

Lee received his B.A. with honors from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for Film and Television.