UNIVERSAL TELEVISION NAMES VETERAN PROGRAM EXECUTIVE CHRIS SANAGUSTIN TO HEAD CURRENT PROGRAMMING

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - August 23, 2012 - Veteran studio and network executive Chris Sanagustin has been tapped to head Current Programming for Universal Television. The announcement was made today by Bela Bajaria, Executive Vice President, Universal Television, to whom Sanagustin will report.

Sanagustin, who segues from Senior Vice President, Current and Development Programming at Universal Cable Productions to this newly created role, will oversee all Universal Television-produced dramas and comedies.

"Chris has demonstrated an impressive talent for nurturing shows on air and helping them succeed and grow throughout her career at UCP and Syfy," said Bajaria. "She has earned the respect and admiration of the creative community for her storytelling instincts in both comedy and drama - and we're thrilled to have her on-board to help shape the future of Universal Television."

At UCP, Sanagustin oversaw scripted series such as Syfy's veteran hits "Warehouse 13," "Eureka" and "Alphas" along with shepherding the network's upcoming transmedia series, "Defiance." Prior to UCP, Sanagustin was a programming executive at Sci Fi Channel (now Syfy).

"It's been a true honor working with Chris over these past five years, first as an executive at Syfy and then at UCP. Her intelligence, passion, and deft leadership has been instrumental in building Syfy and UCP's strong slate of scripted series. I know she'll be an amazing asset to Bela, and we wish her all the best in her new endeavors at Universal Television," said Mark Stern, President Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head, Original Content, UCP.

Before joining the NBCUniversal family, she was Senior Vice President of Current Programming at The WB Television Network. Sanagustin made her directorial debut in 2008 with a short film she co-wrote, entitled "Fleece." The film was produced as part of the prestigious American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and daughter of two physicians, Sanagustin chose to pursue a career in television instead of becoming a doctor. She resides in South Pasadena, Calif., with her wife, their son and a menagerie of pets.