HBO President Sue Naegle to Exit for Production Deal
Sue Naegle is stepping down as president of entertainment for HBO with plans to segue to a production pact with the pay cabler.
No one is expected to replace her in the post.
Naegle was tapped prez of HBO Entertainment in April 2008 after working her way up the ranks at UTA as a top TV lit agent. Among the shows she’s shepherded during her tenure at HBO are “Game of Thrones,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “True Blood,” “Girls,” “Enlightened” and “Eastbound and Down.”
Naegle (pictured left with “True Blood” star Anna Paquin) took the reins of HBO at a difficult time for the network, which was struggling to find a next generation of hits after reaching new heights with “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.”
But from the start, her role was somewhat overshadowed by Michael Lombardo’s post as prexy of original programming. Naegle nonetheless was well-liked internally, and respected in broader showbiz circles, for focusing on the hard work of development rather than courting the spotlight. She had deep relationships in the creative community from her background as a percenter, and those ties have only grown during her time as a buyer. Her varied experience as an agent and exec should serve Naegle well as she shifts to a hands-on producer role.
HBO and Naegle declined immediate comment.
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