AMC Networks has named long-time senior executive Joshua Reader president of distribution and development, a new role on the company’s senior management team.

Reader, who had most recently been AMC Networks’ EVP of business development, will lead the company’s distribution functions as well as its business development functions. He will continue to report to AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan.

Reader’s promotion comes as AMC Network’s president of distribution nears his retirement date. Broussard said in August that he expected to retire at the end of the year. 

Reader will oversee AMCN’s distribution partnerships and strategy in the U.S., including the distribution of its national cable networks AMC, IFC, WE tv, SundanceTV, BBC America and BBC World News through affiliate partners and the distribution of AMC Networks’ owned and operated streaming services AMC Premiere, Shudder, Sundance Now, Acorn TV and UMC. He is also responsible for the company’s business development efforts, identifying new opportunities to grow the company through relationships with a wide range of current and potential business partners.

“Josh has established himself as an accomplished leader at AMC Networks and a valued partner to both his colleagues within our company and an expanding array of companies we work with every day that are core to our business, most notably our cable, satellite, telco partners as well as a growing list of new digital partners,” Sapan said in a press release. “He also has demonstrated a keen understanding of the future of media and the opportunities that exist for a world class producer of owned original content, which is our core strength and the activity that fuels our company in a dynamic and competitive environment. I look forward to working more closely with him in this new and extremely significant role.”

Reader joined AMC Networks in 2011 as director of business development and advanced platforms, and was promoted to vice president of distribution in 2013 and senior vice president of distribution in 2014. In 2017 he was named senior vice president of distribution and new content partnerships, focused on traditional affiliate relationships and working with new platforms to grow the company’s suite of emerging niche streaming services. At the beginning of this year, Reader was promoted to EVP of business development. Prior to joining AMC Networks, he practiced as an attorney at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

“AMC Networks has demonstrated a unique and outsized ability to produce content that captivates critics and fans and drives popular culture,” Reader said in a press release. “Our relationships with valued affiliate partners both help power the creation of this content and connect it to fans on a wide range of platforms. I am thankful for this opportunity to take a leadership position in managing these key relationships while also growing our business in new ways as the company continues to evolve as a premier producer of quality content in this changing landscape.”

AMC Networks said president of distribution Bob Broussard told the company he wants to retire at the end of the year. The programmer said Broussard "has played an extremely significant role" by managing the company's relationships with cable, satellite and telco providers over the years. 

During his tenure AMC Networks evolved from a movie channel to an original programming power, with such shows as AMC's The Walking Dead, Mad Men, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and now oversees five networks (AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, We TV and BBC America).

"For 30 years, Bob has provided thoughtful and highly effective leadership at our company, starting in the legal department and ultimately running affiliate relations during a period that completely transformed AMC and its relationships with distributors, to the benefit of everyone associated with the company and the millions of fans of our programming,” AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan said in a release. “We are sorry to see him go but understand his desire to retire from the industry and are very appreciative for his time here and many contributions to the company.”

Related: AMC 'Positioned Extremely Well' For OTT TV Shift

Broussard said: “When I got here in August of 1989, I would never have dreamed of the three decades that followed, a remarkably rewarding and stimulating period of growth and success, as AMC reinvented itself time and again and ultimately became a force in original programming far beyond any of our expectations, and across five national networks. I am so proud of our affiliate team and all that we have accomplished. I’m also extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with the other highly-skilled people here at AMC Networks as well as at our distribution partners. While I cherish my role here, and will sorely miss it, I am excited to move into my next chapter.”

Earlier, Broussard was a corporate lawyer with Paul, Weiss, specializing in mergers, acquisition, and financing transactions. 

AMC Networks said senior VP of distribution Joshua Reader has added new content partnerships to his title and his role at the programmer. He will continue to manage licensing and affiliate marketing for the company’s national networks while adding an important focus on identifying distribution and partnership opportunities for the company’s content on new and emerging digital platforms, AMC said in a release. In his affiliate role, he will continue to report to Bob Broussard, president of distribution. For his new content-focused responsibilities, he will report to chief operating officer Ed Carroll.

“Josh has played an integral role for many years in one of the most important areas of our business – maintaining and expanding our distribution relationships with our affiliate partners,” Broussard said in the release. “I look forward to continuing to work with Josh as we recognize his positive impact on the company with an expanded role to seize new opportunities for AMC Networks based on the strength of our content.”

“As our capacity to produce and own content continues to expand, along with the demand for high-quality content on new digital platforms, there are clear opportunities to build, distribute and monetize programming we create in places far beyond our linear networks,” Carroll said. “Josh is a tremendous asset to the company through his existing leadership role on our affiliate distribution team and is well-positioned to add to these responsibilities by identifying and executing on these new digital opportunities, working closely with the many people across our company who currently interact with and elevate our content on digital platforms.”

Reader joined AMC Networks in 2011 as director of business development & advanced platforms. He was promoted to VP of distribution in 2013 and senior VP of distribution in 2014. Earlier in his career, he practiced as an attorney at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He was a member of the MCN "40 under 40" class in 2016.