Former PBS programming executive John Wilson has joined Washington, D.C., public broadcaster WETA as project management VP.
Wilson will oversee relationships with national producing partners, including Ken Burns’ Florentine Films, Henry Louis Gates’ Inkwell Films and McGee Media, founded by filmmaker Dyllan McGee, WETA said in an announcement.
WETA creates more than 350 hours of national programming annually, making it the second-largest producer after WGBH in Boston. WETA is expanding its national portfolio, according to the announcement, by adding new annual documentaries from Gates in addition to his Finding Your Roots series, and more projects with Burns.
Wilson will supervise project logistics and collaborate with the WETA content team on digital and cross-platform initiatives. He reports to EVP and Chief Programming Officer Dalton Delan.
Most recently Wilson was VP and director of AARP’s Life Reimagined Institute, a project on personal development, aging and life transitions. Earlier he spent 20 years in programming at PBS, including as SVP and chief program executive from 2000–14. He began his career at Arizona PBS in Phoenix, working in production and programming.
WETA President Sharon Rockefeller called Wilson “an effective communicator who understands WETA and the public media mission.”