62. Michael Smith

GM, Cooking Channel

Too many cooks in kitchen? Not at Scripps. Smith launched Cooking Channel to huge success in 2010 and hasn’t looked back. Catering to a “foodie” audience that’s a bit younger than sister Food Network, Cooking under Smith continues to build out a stable of fresh on-air talent and increase its reach through higher distribution counts. Smith has a secret sauce, too. His vigorous commitment to diversity in culture, talent and audience will look to strengthen Cooking Channel’s position as one of the most diverse networks in cable. Smith’s definition of diversity? “When the faces behind and on the screen look a lot more like the faces watching at home.”