Gateley to run Lifetime programming

Liz Gateley has rejoined US cable channel Lifetime to run its programming unit.

The former MTV exec has been named executive VP and head of programming at the female-skewed A+E Networks channel.

Lifetime has been without a dedicated programming chief since JoAnn Alfano left four years ago, but new Lifetime executive VP and general manager Rob Sharenow has moved to rectify this.

Gateley will oversee original movie, scripted and unscripted development, reporting to Sharenow, who replaced David McKillop in February.

“Liz has great passion and vision for the Lifetime brand,” said Sharenow. “She started her career here, developing scripted and reality series before moving to MTV, where she had an incredibly successful run transforming that network and the TV landscape in general with a string of genre-defining hits.”

Gateley was senior VP of development at MTV, working under Tony DiSanto, after leaving Lifetime. The pair left the Viacom-owned channel in 2011 and launched Teen Wolf producer DiGa Vision, which was later acquired by ITV Studios.

Following her appointment at Lifetime, DiSanto will continue to run unscripted specialist DiGA alone.