AMC rejigs scripted commissioning team

AMC has restructured its senior scripted team following the departure of Ben Haigh, Broadcast International has learned.

Haigh oversaw domestic scripted development and programming at AMC alongside co-lead Josh Sizer, with both execs joining the company in 2020 as directors of scripted programming. They were promoted to vice presidents in 2021 and then senior vice presidents in 2023.

Following Haigh’s departure, Sizer is now working closely with senior vice president of international programming and development, Noel Manzano, who has taken on an expanded remit across AMC’s scripted slate.

Manzano joined AMC in 2019 and had previously had a more international focus. He works across several of the broadcaster’s linear channels and streaming platforms, and has overseen shows such as UK/US Sky co-production Gangs of London and period drama Mary & George.

He also co-leads strategy for the broadcaster’s production arm, AMC Studios, which produces shows including Dark Winds and The Audacity for AMC. The latter was released in April and has been renewed for a second season. 

Manzano is also tasked with finding opportunities on platforms beyond AMC, as seen with its sci-fi dystopian series Silo, which is released on Apple TV.

Both Manzano and Sizer report into Ben Davis, exec vice president of original programming for AMC Global Media.

“Noel is a talented executive who has helped shepherd popular and critically acclaimed series like Gangs of London, Monsieur Spade and most recently the Brooke Shields Acorn TV drama, You’re Killing Me,” said Davis.

“We’re excited to expand his focus to include some of our tentpole AMC and AMC+ series like The Audacity and the recently greenlit NASCAR drama, Thunder Road. He will do a terrific job partnering with Josh and the entire domestic programming team in this expanded role.”

Haigh departed AMC in March. During his tenure, he developed shows including comedy drama Kevin Can F**k Himself and neo-Noir western Dark Winds. The latter, for which the team built one of the industry’s first fully Native American and Indigenous writers rooms, has recently been renewed for a fifth series.

The executive also worked on upcoming NASCAR family drama Thunder Road with AMC Studios chief content officer and president Dan McDermott, with the show marking the racing brand’s first long-form drama project.

Haigh started his career working between the UK and the US, becoming manager of development at Shore Z Productions, where he worked on shows including The Good Doctor, before leaving to join AMC. He is also a part-time lecturer at UCLA, and, with Sizer, was named on LA TV Week’s 40 Under 40 list in 2024.

AMC is the flagship channel of AMC Global Media, which rebranded from AMC Networks in April. The broadcaster - known for hits ranging from Mad Men to Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead - operates a range of linear channels and streaming platforms including AMC and AMC+, BBC America, Sundance TV and Sundance Now, and horror-focused streamer Shudder.