HGTV President Girard to Retire at Year’s End

By The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.

Jul. 16–Veteran TV executive Judy Girard, who has headed Food Network and Home & Garden Television since joining Scripps Networks 10 years ago, will retire as HGTV president at the end of the year, the company announced today.

HGTV is the largest of Knoxville-based Scripps Networks’ lifestyle networks and is the original brand created by the company in 1994.

Girard, 61, joined Scripps in 1998, first as general manager and then president of Food Network. She is credited with helping redefine television food production through a growing variety of lifestyle and entertainment programs.

During her tenure, she built a talent base anchored by popular personalities Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Alton Brown and Giada De Laurentiis.

Then in 2005, Girard was asked to head HGTV, where she broadened the network’s audience by attracting new, younger viewers.

Scripps Networks said a search is under way for Girard’s successor.

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