Tom McDonald exits BBC Studios to take exec VP role at National Geographic

Senior BBC executive Tom McDonald has been named executive VP of global factual and unscripted content for Disney-owned US factual broadcaster National Geographic.

The appointment, effective from June, was announced today by Courteney Monroe, president of National Geographic Content, to whom McDonald will report.

He joins Carolyn Bernstein, executive VP of scripted and feature documentaries, as Monroe’s senior creative team.

In this newly created New York-based position, McDonald will be responsible for leading the development and production of all global unscripted series and specials across all programming categories and formats – including travel, adventure, exploration, history, science and natural history – that feed Disney+ and Nat Geo’s linear channels. Bernstein will continue to oversee National Geographic Documentary Films.

McDonald’s direct reports and teams he will oversee include Alan Eyres, senior VP of development and production for unscripted; Janet Vissering, senior VP of development and production for Wildlife and Natural History; and Michelle Upton, senior VP of production management.

McDonald joins from BBC Studios, where he is managing director of factual productions, overseeing the creative and commercial strategy for the genre, a staff of more than 500 people and over 300 hours of programming per year.

Recent credits for the division include natural history series The Green Planet and science series Universe for the BBC.

Prior to joining BBC Studios, McDonald spent more than seven years in the factual commissioning department of BBC Content, latterly as head of natural history and specialist factual commissioning. Before that he worked in the UK’s indie production sector.

Monroe said: “Tom is a brilliant creative executive with extraordinary vision and impeccable taste. Having spent a decade at the BBC creating premium, genre-defining factual content, Tom is the perfect person to lead our efforts to produce best-in-class, must-see National Geographic content.

“I have known and admired Tom for quite some time and could not be more thrilled he is joining our team as we expand our programming ambitions to help drive the global growth of Disney+.”

McDonald added: “It has been a privilege to work at the BBC, but the chance to join Courteney and her team at this pivotal moment in National Geographic’s evolution is an opportunity that was impossible to turn down. As I relocate to the US and start a new chapter, I feel excited and energised by the opportunity to elevate National Geographic content across the Disney ecosystem. I cannot wait to get started.”