A television industry veteran, Regina “Genie” Thomas has spent more than 20 years as a network, syndication and local station executive.
Currently Vice President of Original Programming at BET Networks, Thomas has played an integral role in BET’s historical expansion and re-branding. She develops, launches and supervises production of alternative series and specials for BET and sister network, CENTRIC. She launched and oversaw production of BET’s highest rated reality series in the network’s history, Tiny & Toya and spin-off Toya: A Family Affair. Thomas’ other projects for BET Networks include: Apollo Live, Keyshia Cole: Family First, BET Takes Hollywood, Apollo Live, Born to Dance: Laurieann Gibson, The Judge Mathis Project, The Mo’Nique Show, and Procter & Gamble branded talk series, My Black is Beautiful.
Prior to joining BET, Thomas spent over 5 years as Vice President of Development and Production at NBC Universal Television Distribution’s start-up syndication division. At NBCUTD she launched and oversaw production of over 500 episodes of the only daily reality series, Starting Over, which earned two Daytime Emmy Awards under her leadership. She also managed talker The Other Half, The Remarkable Journey, Blind Date, and Rebecca’s Garden. Thomas also served as Executive Director of Development and Production at TLC where she managed and supervised production of pilots and series including Emmy-winning A Baby Story, 10 Years Younger, and Procter & Gamble branded series, Home Made Simple.
Thomas began her career as a syndication and later ad sales executive. She spent almost 10 years selling television with companies including Sony Pictures Television and Discovery Communications before shifting to the programming side. She is also a member of and executive mentor for Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and a member of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC).
Thomas is a cum laude graduate of Princeton University and earned her M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management. She resides in Los Angeles with her 4 year old son.
