Former CNNer Will Surratt is replacing Mary Duffy as executive producer of The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, CNBC announced today. Duffy is becoming executive producer of primetime development.

"I want to thank Mary for her tireless energy and efforts in taking The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch so far and I'm confident her talent will be well utilized in her new role with Susan as we develop and produce more original primetime content," Mark Hoffman said in a memo. "Wil, with his strong news background, and Donny, with his pulse on popular culture, trends and the business world, will make a potent team in evolving The Big Idea." Click continued to read the full memo...




-----Original Message-----

From: CNBC Employee Communications (NBC Universal, CNBC)

Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 12:44 PM

Subject: From Mark

I am pleased to announce that, effectively immediately, Mary Duffy, Executive Producer of "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch," is being named Executive Producer, Primetime Development, reporting to Susan Krakower, Vice President, Strategic Programming and Development.

Under Mary's direction, "The Big Idea" saw its ratings rise 80% in household ratings and 88% in adults 25-54 year-to-date compared to the same period a year ago. Its first quarter ratings this year were its best quarter ever in households and adults 25-54.

Mary rejoined CNBC in 2004 from Telepictures Productions where she served as Vice President, Programming and managed all aspects of programming and production activities for the launch of programs, including "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Mary first worked at CNBC in 1989 as a coordinating producer.

Succeeding Mary as Executive Producer of "The Big Idea" is Wilson (Wil) Surratt. Wil joins CNBC from CNN, where he has worked since July 2002, first as a Senior Executive Producer on "American Morning," first with Paula Zahn and then Soledad O'Brien, and then as Senior Executive Producer for "Newsnight." Wil was most recently CNN Senior Executive Producer for Program Development.

I want to thank Mary for her tireless energy and efforts in taking "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch" so far and I'm confident her talent will be well utilized in her new role with Susan as we develop and produce more original primetime content. Wil, with his strong news background, and Donny, with his pulse on popular culture, trends and the business world, will make a potent team in evolving "The Big Idea."

Please join me in congratulating both Mary and Wil.