NBCUniversal ups Rachel Smith to head unscripted content, lifestyle & documentaries

Below Deck

NBCUniversal has promoted Rachel Smith as EVP of unscripted content, lifestyle and documentaries, three months after she took on the role on an interim basis.

Smith stepped into the position in June, following the exit of Rod Aissa, who had been with the company for more than a decade. Going forward, she will now continue in the role on a permanent basis, helming the production of unscripted lifestyle, true crime, documentary and docuseries content development.

Rachel Smith

Smith will also oversee current programming across NBCU’s entertainment portfolio, including NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, SYFY, Universal Kids, USA Network and Peacock.

She will report into Frances Berwick, chairma of NBCUniversal Entertainment, who said the exec was “an exceptional leader who has created many brand-defining original programs for NBCUniversal.”

Before her interim role, Smith served as EVP of unscripted development, for all lifestyle, crime and documentary programming across NBCU’s Entertainment portfolio.

She worked on titles including Peacock documentary Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies, The Rebellious Life Of Mrs. Rosa Parks, Queen’s Court and Paris In Love.

Since joining NBCUniversal, Smith has played a key role in the development and production of several of NBCU’s most recognisable unscripted titles, including the Real Housewives franchise, the Below Deck franchise, Summer House, Southern Charm and Million Dollar Listing.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Smith was VP of original programming at BBC America where she was responsible for the production of unscripted originals, including Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan and Richard Hammond’s Crash Course.

She also worked on several specials for the Planet Earth, Top Gear and Doctor Who franchises. Before that, Smith was VP of development & production, scripted programming, at the Independent Film Channel and EP, Discovery Fit and Health & Planet Green.