NBC And Universal Announce Vernon Sanders Promotion To Executive VP, Current Programming

Veteran NBC program executive Vernon Sanders was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President, Current Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios, it was announced today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"Vernon is an incredibly talented programming executive in both comedy and drama, who has easily earned the respect of talent, writers and his colleagues," said Bromstad. "He has great relationships, good commercial instincts and we know that in this new and well-deserved position, he will further expand our commitment to broadcasting quality series on a consistent basis. There is no one more invested in the success of our new and existing shows than Vernon, who has played a key role in the development of so many of them."

In his new role, Sanders will be responsible for overseeing all currently broadcast scripted programming for the network and studio.

Sanders, who will report to Bromstad, previously served as Senior Vice President, Drama Programming, since his return to NBC Universal in June 2009. He was responsible for such new series as "Undercovers" and "Love Bites" as well as this Spring's hit "Parenthood." In addition, he has overseen development for the drama pilot "Prime Suspect.

In Sanders' earlier stint at Universal Media Studios as Senior Vice President, Comedy Series, he was responsible for creative supervision of the studio's comedy programming efforts, including NBC's Emmy Award-winning series "30 Rock" and "The Office" during 2007-08. Sanders also developed the pilot for the series "Worst Week," and led the first year of the studio's Director in Training program.

Previously, Sanders was Vice President, Comedy Programming, from 2004-07 both at Universal Media Studios and its previous incarnation, NBC Universal Television Studio.

He worked as the current executive on "The Office" and was the development executive assigned to DreamWorks Television, Conaco Productions and Wolf Films. His credits also include development of The CW series "Aliens in America."

Earlier, Sanders served as Vice President, Comedy Programming, for Universal Network Television, in September 2003, after joining Universal in December 2002 as Executive Director, Comedy Programming.

Sanders joined Universal from Nuance Productions, where he was Vice President of TV development from 1999-2002 for the Paul Reiser-run Production Company. Prior to that, Sanders was director of TV development from 1996-98 at Wind Dancer Productions after joining Wind Dancer as a development assistant in 1994.

Sanders holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in film and video from Pennsylvania State University.

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