Marissa Ronca

EVP & Head of Original Programming & Development

truTV

Marissa Ronca serves asexecutive vice president,head of original programming & development for truTV. In this role, she is responsible for the network's diverse slate of original programming from concept through production. Ronca is based in New York and reports to Chris Linn, president of truTV.

Since being named to her current position in January 2016, Ronca has worked closely with Linn to successfully evolve truTV into a premium comedy brand by completely transforming its original programming slate to include a mix of comedic formats and distinct programs with creators at the center. truTV has put significant resources behind reshaping its brand, turning over a slate of more than 30 new projects in development which led to greenlights on a diverse portfolio of shows that include series such as Impractical Jokers, Adam Ruins Everything, The Carbonaro  Effect,Paid Off with Michael Torpey and scripted series I’m Sorry and At Home with Amy Sedaris.

Ronca previously served as senior vice president of program development at truTV. She joined the network (then known as Court TV) in 2007 and was a key player in its transformation into truTV in 2008. As vice president of program development, she headed up the development team responsible for creating a complete roster of hit shows at the time, including the network’s lasting hit Impractical Jokers, which remains as truTV’s longest-running original series and one of the highest rated original comedy series on cable today.

Before coming to truTV, Ronca was director of development at TLC and Discovery Home Channel, where she was part of a team responsible for cultivating the successful series Little People, Big World, LA Ink and Say Yes to the  Dress. Ronca began her career with Discovery Communications Inc., working in production and development for Discovery Onboard/VOD and Discovery Networks International. In 2005, Ronca left Discovery and joined Brainbox Productions, an independent production company where she developed, wrote and produced original programming for such networks as HGTV, Style, Discovery and Court TV.

 Ronca’s film work includes executive-producing the feature Crazy Sexy Cancer and producing the 2006 independent scripted feature The Guatemalan Handshake. Ronca is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. She currently serves as a mentor with the Junior Membership of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society (JHRTS).

Speaking at: Changemakers: Creating a positive path for inclusion