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Heather Jones

Chief Creative Officer EMEA and General Manager UK

Having spent nearly three decades championing exciting and must-watch content at home and internationally, Heather Jones is both General Manager of A+E Networks UK and Chief Creative Officer across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Heather has a vision and huge affection for great entertainment across the network’s portfolio that she leads: which spans HISTORY, History2, Crime + Investigation, BLAZE and COSMO TV.

Her two roles mean that Heather drives A+E Networks EMEA’s strategic direction across a multitude of markets, striving to inspire her team to deliver high quality commissions and acquisitions while, as she says, always having fun. As well as editorial content, she oversees the network’s marketing, scheduling, creative, research and communications departments.

Having joined A+E Networks EMEA in 2013 as VP of Programming, Heather has shown an in-depth knowledge of the TV landscape coupled with strong leadership which has seen her promoted three times. 

Under her tenure, A+E Networks EMEA has launched several new services, including the UK, Polish and African versions of female-focused Lifetime, and BLAZE: a UK free-to-air factual entertainment channel.  A+E Networks EMEA’s own subscription services have launched and expanded hugely under Heather’s continued focus on streaming, with Crime + Investigation Play and HISTORY Play showing incredible growth on Amazon Prime Video Channels and Apple TV Channels in many EMEA markets. 

But it’s premium and thrilling programming that is Heather’s first love. With a keen eye for entertaining formats anchored to well-known and loved personalities, Heather has commissioned a variety of successful programmes including Damien Lewis: Spy Wars, Murdertown, Dermot Monaghan’s Killer Britain, and the award-winning Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate the English? And let’s not forget two very different but iconic series: Britain’s Next Top Model and Royal Bastards: Rise of the Tudors. 

Heather’s TV career began at Euro Disney in 1992, but her big break came five years later when she was asked to run the Trouble TV channel while still a relatively inexperienced freelance producer/director. And she’s since gone on to embrace the industry as Chair of the Commercial and On-Demand Broadcasters’ Association (COBA), and Chair of the Royal Television Society’s National Events Committee. She is also board member of Elstree Film Studios and the Edinburgh TV Festival. 

Outside of the small screen, Heather sings in a choir and will tear up any dancefloor - both, she freely admits, with more gusto than grace. 
 

A photograph of Heather Jones
A photograph of Heather Jones