Warner Bros Discovery alum Howard Swartz to head Pioneer Productions as CEO

Tinopolis-backed UK factual prodco Pioneer Productions has appointed former Warner Bros Discovery executive Howard Swartz as CEO.

Howard Swartz

Swartz takes up the new role immediately at Pioneer’s London headquarters, reporting to Tinopolis CEO Jennifer Roberts and filling a position held until last year by Jonathan Hewes. Creative director Thomas Viner also departed the company and is yet to be replaced.

Swartz joins Pioneer following a storied career at Warner Bros Discovery, most recently as senior VP of docs and specials across its factual networks and streaming.

After joining the company in 2018 he oversaw over 100 hours of Shark Week and launched limited docuseries and feature docs for Discovery and Discovery+, including Serengeti from Simon Fuller and John Downer and January 6th, directed by Jules and Gedeon Naudet.

Swartz left Warner Bros Discovery in 2023 to be exec VP of production and development at Stephen David Entertainment.

Swartz was previously Arrow Media’s exec VP of production and development, responsible for projects that spanned several networks, including History, Science Channel, Curiosity Stream, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel.

Prior to joining Arrow, Swartz was VP of documentaries and specials at Discovery Channel, where he oversaw global specials including Shark Week and Skywire Live With Nik Wallenda. Before joining Discovery in 2011, Swartz was executive producer of PBS’s science series NOVA.

“Pioneer Productions has always stood for intelligent, ambitious and entertaining factual content,” said Swartz.

“In the midst of this global television transformation, I’m looking forward to building a slate that honours the company’s DNA while creating space for fresh voices, new topics, and formats that can entertain and inform audiences across broadcast, streaming, digital and whatever platform might come next.”

Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Tinopolis, said: “Howard brings deep industry experience, a proven balance of strategy and execution, and strong relationships that I know will open doors to storytelling talent at the highest levels. His appointment marks a new chapter in Pioneer’s story, building on a great legacy and laser-focused on where factual is headed next.”