EXCLUSIVE: JC Mills, President and Head of Content at Mayday: Air Crash Investigation producer Cineflix Productions, is leaving the company after six years.

Mills joined the company, which also makes History’s American Pickers, in 2020 and the company’s co-founders Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck said he had made an “extraordinary contribution” to the firm and played a “pivotal role” in bringing hundreds of hours of programming to life.

Mills is a well-liked and well-known figure in the unscripted community, having previously been a buyer at Nat Geo and an agent at ICM Partners before becoming President and General Manager of Glass Entertainment Group.

He will continue to exec produce Cineflix’s slate of shows for The History Channel including History’s Greatest Picks when he leaves at the end of August. Piers Vellacott, who is Chief Commercial Officer, Content, will oversee the development and production slates in the U.S. and UK as it searches for a creative exec to join the team.

During his time at Cineflix, he worked on shows including American Pickers and Mayday: Air Crash Investigation, which became a hit on YouTube, as well as premium documentaries including Nancy Buirski’s Oscar-shortlisted Desperate Souls, Dark City, and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy and Summer Qamp.  

He revealed his exit to staff in an internal note to colleagues, seen by Deadline.

“After a great deal of reflection, I’ve decided that the time is right for me to move on from my role as Cineflix Productions’ President and Head of Content. I’m handing over the reins of this successful division with a rock-solid production and development slate that stretches from LA to London in addition to exciting soon-to-be-announced renewals,” he wrote. “As of September 1st, I will be executive producing Cineflix’s History Channel slate of shows, which couldn’t make me happier—being at the forefront of these shows, supported by some of the best creatives in the business… This wasn’t an easy decision, but it feels like the natural next step after an extraordinary six year-plus run leading this team.”

He added that he is “incredibly proud of the teams across the company that have developed, pitched, and produced hundreds of hours of programming in an increasingly difficult commissioning landscape”.

Salzman and Buck added, “We would like to thank JC for the extraordinary contribution he has made to Cineflix since joining in 2020. JC has played a pivotal role in bringing hundreds of hours of premium programming to life—content that has resonated with audiences around the world and garnered recognition through renewals, press accolades, award distinctions, and festival selections. We are pleased that JC will remain as an executive producer on our History Channel slate.”

“Looking ahead, we are evolving our framework to position the company for growth and success. This new structure will strengthen our position as an ambitious content company and enable us to stay agile, competitive, and focused on long-term sustainability in an evolving industry,” the pair added.