PBS Announces the Promotion of Leaders in Key Departments

PBS announced the addition of new leadership in key departments for the organization: Technology & Operations, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Communications, and PBS KIDS.  

Technology & Operations 

Rachelle Byars-Sargent has been promoted to Vice President, Enterprise Metadata Management. In her new role, Rachelle will manage the establishment and implementation of PBS’s metadata management strategy. She will lead the way on how metadata is captured, curated, retained and distributed across PBS to increase our discoverability.  

Jimmy Benoit has been promoted to serve as Vice President, Cybersecurity. In this expanded role, Jimmy is responsible for developing and implementing PBS’s cybersecurity strategy and vision. He will lead the team dedicated to ensuring our assets, technology infrastructure, information and people are protected.  

Office of the Chief Operating Officer 

Kate Alany has been promoted to Vice President, Strategy & Organizational Performance and will oversee the development, tracking and reporting of organizational performance metrics. In her new role, Kate will lead key organizational projects and work across all departments to provide corporate-wide strategic business analysis. She will continue to report to Jonathan Barzilay. 

Corporate Communications 

Michae Godwin has been promoted to serve as Vice President, Publicity. With this expanded role, Michae will lead the development and implementation of comprehensive publicity campaigns that support multiplatform content. She will continue to build key relationships with producing partners and work to maximize publicity opportunities for PBS program talent and filmmakers.  

PBS KIDS 

Maria Vera Whelan will be promoted to Vice President, Marketing & Brand Engagement, PBS KIDS. She will oversee the marketing of PBS KIDS across all user touchpoints, leading a holistic strategy to engage new and existing audiences with PBS KIDS’ mission, values, content and distribution platforms. Her new position starts when she returns to PBS from parental leave.  

About PBS 

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirm that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.