BET poaches Fox Searchlight’s Mashariki

BET Networks has poached Fox Searchlight programmer Zola Mashariki to work with programming president Stephen Hill.

Mashariki will be executive VP and head of original programming at the Viacom cable channel overseeing scripted and unscripted programming and development and casting.

She will report to Hill, who was promoted to president of programming last year after former original programming president Loretha Jones exited in September. Mashariki will be based in LA, while Hill remains in New York.

Mashariki has spent 15 years at Fox Searchlight, the indie movie label of 21^st Century Fox behind films such as The Last King of Scotland and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.