Fox names alternative chief

Fox Broadcasting Company has named a veteran producer and executive as its president of alternative entertainment and specials.

Rob Wade

Rob Wade, who joins next month, will oversee the network’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate.

He will report to Dana Walden and Gary Newman, chairmen and CEOs of Fox Television Group.

Corie Henson has been running the alternative department since replacing Simon Andreae as VP of alternative entertainment in 2015. She will now report to Wade. Mike Darnell previously held the role before stepping down in 2013.

Over the past 20 years, Wade has specialised in live music, variety and reality programming.

He was most recently showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and was head of entertainment development at BBC Worldwide.

Wade has also been an executive producer on Fox’s The X Factor and NBC’s America’s Got Talent, and was head of TV at SyCo Entertainment North America.

Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word and competition series Kicking & Screaming are among the new unscripted series to land at Fox this year.