Great American Country Thursday promoted current senior vice president of programming Sarah Trahern to general manager and senior vice president of the Scripps Networks-owned service.
Trahern, who joined the country music-themed network in 2005, will now have broader responsibilities related to strategic planning and as well as more day-to-day management over all departments at GAC. She will directly report to GAC president Ed Hardy.
In her tenure with GAC, Trahern has helped build the network brand through the development of such exclusive original country music properties as the Opry at Carnegie Hall, Country at the White House, and the live telethon, Music City: Keep on Playin'. Trahern also serves as president of the board of the Academy of Country Music (ACM).
"Sarah has demonstrated strong leadership, solid business acumen and incredible resourcefulness while contributing significantly to the growth of the GAC," said Hardy in a statement. "To those in the music and cable TV industries, her name has become almost synonymous with the GAC brand."
In addition to Trahern's promotion, Suzanne Gordon will assume the role of vice president of programming for the network. Reporting to Trahern, Gordon - who has been director of programming at GAC since 2006 -- will oversee all aspects of original programming and acquisitions. Gordon has had oversight of numerous programming projects, including Opry Live, Headline Country, Backstory andOrigins.
