Former Discovery Networks Canada president and GM Paul Lewis has joined the prodco behind Discovery Canada hitHighway Thru Hell  as its new president.

Lewis joins the senior management team at Great Pacific Media in a bid to help the Vancouver-headquartered prodco, owned by Thunderbird, foster relationships with international broadcasters.

At Discovery Canada, Lewis was behind the launch of the world’s first daily science program, Daily Planet, and oversaw five networks as well as their related websites, the company’s in-house production arm, and a distribution business.

“As an innovative leader and a pioneer of factual programming, Paul is the best of the best,” said Mark Miller, CEO of Great Pacific Media, in a statement, while Thunderbird executive chairman Ivan Fecan said Lewis “is a wonderful addition to our family. He will help us to grow our relationships around the world with networks seeking innovative programming.”

Besides Highway Thru Hell, which airs in 170 countries and is in its fifth season on Discovery Canada, Great Pacific Media also produces Game of Homes for Corus’ W Network.

Lewis departed from Discovery Networks Canada after more than 20 years with the company in September of last year, as part of a wave of restructuring at Canada’s Bell Media.