Smith, who will stay on as deputy chairman of Granada, will be responsible for leading the management and staff of Ascent Media UK's businesses, which include UK network services, UK creative services and media management operations.
Within these departments are a number of post facilities, graphics houses and playout operations, including Rushes, St Anne's Post and what was previously the London Playout Centre. Ascent's staff in the UK exceeds 1,200.
Smith replaces Sam Husain, who left in April, and joins Terry Downing, David Barrett and Bob Gentry, who were appointed chief financial officer, managing director of media management services and media network services respectively. They joined the company in January.
Smith, who started last week, will draw up a five-year plan to be completed by the end of July. Last year's north-west business leader of the year stated that her first step will be to ensure that core clients and their businesses are looked after.
Smith also noted that while opportunities in Europe would
be assessed, consolidation of Ascent's position in the UK as an industry leader was more vital.
She also made a point of not ruling out a possibility of gaining a foothold in Manchester should the BBC get approval to move a channel to the city as part of the Charter renewal process.
If the BBC does migrate staff to the north-west, then there would be an obvious opportunity for a champion of the regional cause, such as Smith, and a bullish company such as Ascent, to capitalise on the development.
Smith said that such regional expansion would be considered but only pursued "if it makes viable business sense and fits in with the global business vision [of the Ascent Media Group]".
Meanwhile, Ascent Media has won a contract with Discovery Communications to play out its various channels across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim. The channels were previously transmitted from LPC, which was bought by Ascent earlier this year.
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