Jeff Wachtel

Jeff Wachtel born 1955, is the Co-President of USA Network and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions. Wachtel joined USA in 2001 as executive vice president, original programming. Since then, he has overseen all original programming for USA, cable television’s acknowledged leader in successful original programming. Series launched under Wachtel’s supervision include Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, In Plain Sight, Monk, Royal Pains, Psych, White Collar and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Wachtel also developed and supervised USA's earlier hit series The Dead Zone and The 4400, as well as the newest additions to USA's series slate, Suits and Necessary Roughness.

As co-heads of content for the newly configured Universal Cable Productions, Wachtel and Mark Stern are responsible for the development and production of all UCP-produced programming for USA, Syfy and third party networks.

Before USA, Wachtel served as president of Alliance Atlantis Television, supervising all series and longform programming for the Canadian program supplier. In 1997, he was the executive producer of the first-run syndicated series "Pensacola: Wings of Gold." Wachtel created the show while president of 3 Arts Television, a production company that partnered with CBS, Sony and 3 Arts Management. He served as president of 3 Arts Television from 1996 to 1997.

From 1990 to 1996, Wachtel was at Columbia Pictures Television, where he rose to executive vice president of primetime television and served in that capacity from 1993 to 1996. Party of Five, Dawson's Creek, and "Birdland" were among the series he developed. Before arriving at Columbia Pictures Television, Wachtel was senior vice president, movies and miniseries at Orion Television ("Equal Justice") from 1987 to 1990. He was previously vice president, development, at Robert Cooper Productions ("Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story," "Dead Man Out") from 1984 to 1987.

Wachtel began his career as a theatre director and producer. He produced the first New York productions of David Mamet’s works -- Sexual Perversity in Chicago and The Duck Variations.

A graduate of Yale University, Wachtel is a founding member of L.A. Works, a community-based volunteer organization, as well as board member of the Zimmer Children’s Museum, the Television Academy Foundation, and the HRTS.

He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Sheryl, and their two children, Emily and Jesse.