Named President of Food Network in April of 2004, Brooke Bailey Johnson directs the network with a keen focus on programming and new business development as well as managing the network’s relationships with other Scripps Networks brands. Since joining Food Network, Johnson has worked hard to build on the strengths of the brand and to attract new viewers to the network. She had served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Food Network since May 2003.
Johnson was named Executive Vice President, General Manager, A&E Network in 1997. Responsible for the vision, strategic direction, and day-to-day management of the network, under her leadership the network grew revenue by 55% to $525M. She also launched THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL, a digital cable network based on the BIOGRAPHY program brand, which was also extended into print (BIOGRAPHY MAGAZINE), the internet, radio, and home video. Ad Age magazine named her Cable Marketer of the Year in 1999 in recognition of the overall network brand.
Prior to being named General Manager, Johnson was Senior Vice President of Programming of A&E and THE HISTORY CHANNEL. It was she who proposed the original concept for HISTORY CHANNEL and crafted the programming strategy. Directed to cable MSO’s, that strategy resulted in the most successful new network launch of the mid-90’s and a distribution base of over 50M subs.
She began at A&E as Senior Vice President of Programming in 1989. Under her direction, the network tripled its ratings over the next ten years from a .5 to a 1.5, and went from a little known specialty channel to a top ten network in both ratings and brand awareness. Her early commitment to network-owned, original programming resulted in a 1500+ hour library which was the basis for the successful launch of THE HISTORY CHANNEL, THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL, and 16 overseas channels.
Prior to joining A&E, Johnson was Program Director for WABC-TV in New York City where she launched first locally and then into national syndication Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee. She served in several capacities at WLS-TV, ABC’s Chicago station, including Executive Producer of AM Chicago and Assistant Program Director.
Johnson’s numerous industry affiliations have included the Board of Trustees of the WICT Foundation, part of Women in Cable & Telecommunications; the board of NATPE, the National Association of Television Program Executives; the CTAM Summit Planning Committee; and a founding trustee of Cable Positive, the cable industry AIDS fundraising and awareness organization. She was also one of six cable industry executives selected by the National Cable Television Association to serve as a representative on the TV Parental Guidelines Oversight Monitoring Board.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Ms. Johnson holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Masters degree from the University’s Medill School of Journalism. She also completed the Advanced Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Business.
