Susan Swain To Join Discovery Board

Discovery Communications today announced that Susan Swain will join the company’s board of directors, effective December. Swain is co-CEO of multiplatform public affairs content distributor, C-SPAN.

“Susan Swain has a proven track record of leadership at a highly respected multichannel media organization, as well as decades of accomplishments in strategic operations, consumer engagement and branding,” said Robert Miron, chairman of Discovery’s board of directors. “Her skills and expertise honed at C-SPAN will add tremendous value to Discovery’s board as we look to move the company forward in this time of enormous change and opportunity across the industry.”

“A strong executive and accomplished cable programmer and author, Susan is a fantastic addition to Discovery’s well-regarded board of directors,” added David Zaslav, president and CEO, Discovery Communications. “We welcome her unique perspective, governance and operating expertise as Discovery continues to grow and diversify in new content and digital platforms around the world.”

At C-SPAN, Swain manages content strategy and programming for the public affairs network’s three TV channels, radio station and websites, as well as marketing and education outreach efforts. Swain joined C-SPAN in 1982, assuming increasing levels of responsibility and holding various on-air and leadership positions, including editorial, production and corporate communications. Swain assumed her current role as co-CEO of C-SPAN in 2012, after having served as president and co-COO since 2006.

Swain also serves as an officer of National Cable Satellite Corporation, as a trustee of the C-SPAN Education Foundation and as a board member of the National Press Foundation. Swain served as a director of The Talbots from 2001 and chairperson of its corporate governance and nominating committee until the corporation ceased to be a public company in 2012.

“Discovery Communications has a stellar reputation as a well-run, forward-thinking media company,” said Swain. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working closely with senior leadership and the company’s long-standing dedicated board to help shape the company’s future.”