TORONTO – Effective April 3, Anna Gecan becomes vice-president, content at HGTV while Emily Morgan will be the new vice-president, content, Food Network and Fine Living, Alliance Atlantis has announced. 
Gecan, left, brings 20 years of television leadership and production experience to her new role, most recently as director, original production for HGTV and Food Network. Over the past year, she oversaw the development and commissioning of more than 20 new titles and the production of over 50 titles for the two channels.
During her tenure, both networks achieved record audience gains, and a series she personally shepherded to completion, Restaurant Makeover, became the first Canadian series ever to achieve top ten status on both HGTV and Food simultaneously, says the press release.
Before assuming the director role, Gecan worked as a production executive with the Food Network. Prior to joining AA, she ran her own production company in London (UK), which allowed her to direct and produce documentaries for the CBC and international broadcasters like the BBC, Channel 4 and National Geographic Europe. She also served as a producer for many years with the CBC’s former news magazine, The Journal. 
Morgan (right) joins the company’s lifestyle team from the dramatic group, where she has most recently served as vice-president, content for three of the company’s digital services, Showcase Action, Showcase Diva and IFC. Morgan joined Alliance Atlantis in 2001 to launch Action and Diva, which grew rapidly to become two of the first digital services to hit the million subscriber mark, consistently leading the industry in audience viewing as well, says the company.
Her broadcasting experience before Alliance Atlantis included a stint in Sydney, Australia, where she directed programming for two pay television services for Movievision Pty Ltd; a secondment to the Department of Canadian Heritage, where she advised on broadcasting policy; and her first assignment in broadcasting with the Astral Communications Group, where she programmed The Movie Network and oversaw the successful launch of Moviepix, Canada’s first classic movie service.
"Both Anna and Emily are creative team leaders with a true zest for our lifestyle content, whose dedication and hard work have paid off in programming excellence and record audience achievements. I look forward to working with them as they help us take our brands, and our team, to even greater success," said Karen Gelbart, senior vice-president, lifestyle content.
