Atkins
Sean Atkins has been upped to exec VP of A. Smith & Co., the reality shingle behind Fox skeins such as "Hell's Kitchen" and "Skating With Celebrities."
In addition, Mariana Manela has been promoted to director of development. She'll report to Atkins.
Besides his exec responsibilities, Atkins -- who's been with the company for five years -- will also serve as a producer on some A. Smith & Co. projects. He'll report to company CEO Arthur Smith and prexy Kent Weed.
"We're making a charge into new areas like scripted television and new media, and Sean is the guy who's going to head up a lot of those initiatives for the company," Weed said.
Smith said the promotion also reflected the role Atkins has had in the company's recent successes.
Atkins began working with A. Smith in the company's consulting division, where he worked with clients such as Paul Allen's Vulcan. He had previously held new-media gigs at Entertaindom, Warner. Bros. Online and Disney/ABC Cable New Media Group.
A. Smith & Co. is in production on the second season of "Hell's Kitchen," the culinary competish toplined by Blighty brute Gordon Ramsay.
Past A. Smith & Co. productions or co-productions include "The Swan," "Paradise Hotel" and "Mad Mad House."
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