Comedy Central is to expand its UK programming team following the promotion of Chris Collie to vice president of programming.

The broadcaster is to hire another programming executive with a focus on acquisitions, following the departure of acquisitions and commissioning manager Shoshana Wilson, who joined Fox International Channels last year as global acquisitions manager.

The move comes as the Viacom-owned pay TV broadcaster expands its presence in the UK. It has commissioned series including Big Talk’s Threesome and Objective’s Big Bad World and acquired first run series from the US including Charlie Sheen-fronted Anger Management and NBC comedy Whitney.

Collie joined Comedy Central in 2011 from Virgin Media, where he worked on female skewing network Living before its acquisition by Sky. His new role will include overseeing programming in other territories as the channel looks to take a more global approach to content.

Jill Offman, managing director of Comedy Central UK and senior vice president of content for Comedy Central International said: “Chris has shown real talent and innovation in programming since he joined Comedy Central in 2011, and this expansion of his role to oversee other territories and promotion to VP is thoroughly deserved.”

Separately, the broadcaster has hired former Vodafone executive Penny Brough as director of marketing. She was previously head of consumer communications at the mobile phone operator and spent seven years at Wieden + Kennedy.

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