Please wait...
Please wait...

Phil Craig exits Discovery

Phil Craig is leaving his position as chief creative officer of Discovery Networks International (DNI) after just eight months in the role.

Phil Craig

Phil Craig

Discovery confirmed to C21 this afternoon that Craig, formerly head of factual at Australian public broadcaster ABC, had decided to step down over the weekend to return to the independent production sector.

He had led a new commissioning strategy since succeeding Julian Bellamy in the role, greenlighting high-end natural history series Life of Dogs and Sydney Harbour Uncovered as he attempted to return Discovery to its “core values.”

His departure follows the news that Marjorie Kaplan would be moving to London as DNI’s president of content.

Craig would have been reporting into Kaplan, and she will now take on his responsibilities in addition to her own, while the company weighs up whether to appoint a successor.

The next move for Craig, a former exec with Jane Root’s prodco Nutopia, is not yet known. He is in Cannes this week representing DNI at Mipcom and the split is said to be amicable.

A statement from DNI read: “Phil Craig has decided to step down from his role as executive VP and chief creative officer with Discovery Networks International and go back to his roots as a leading independent producer.

“He enjoyed creative success at DNI and shepherded several series and specials that will hit the air in 2016, including a ground-breaking natural history series, Life of Dogs, and played a key role in bringing the critically acclaimed film Sherpa to Discovery.

“DNI’s production and development team thanks Phil for his service and dedication and look forward to working with him in the future.”

Please wait...