Martha Stewart Taps New TV Leadership

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia today made two new hires for its television business, which is anchored by Hallmark Channel’s daily series, The Martha Stewart Show. The appointments are effective immediately.

Geoffrey A. Darby, named general manager of MSLO’s television segment, will be responsible for the company’s production and television operations. He will report to MSLO President-COO Lisa Gersh. Michael Morrison, who will report to Darby, assumes the role of executive producer of The Martha Stewart Show, which is set to premiere its seventh season on Sept. 26.

Darby has more than 25 years of experience in the television industry and has expertise in production, programming and brand development, as well as network distribution techniques.  Before joining MSLO, he was EVP of programming for The Weather Channel. Prior to that, he was president of production of Oxygen Media LLC. Darby joined Oxygen from CBS Cable, where he was EVP of the network and president of CBS Eye on People.

Earlier in his career, Darby held several positions at Viacom Inc., including president of Viacom Interactive Services, where he spearheaded its online efforts, and SVP of programming and production for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite.

He studied broadcast radio-television at Algonquin College of Journalism in Ottawa, Canada and Political Science and History at Carleton University, also in Ottawa.

Morrison has a broad range of experience developing, supervising, and producing original programming for syndication as well as broadcast and cable networks. He previously was a programming consultant and executive producer at A&E. Prior to A&E, he held creative and executive producer positions at MTV and Warner Bros. Before that, he was director, entertainment programs, East Coast for NBC where he was part of the team that launched Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Morrison is a graduate of Boston College.