Sara Kozak
SVP, Production - Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Destination America
Sara Kozak is the senior vice president of production for Investigation Discovery (ID) and American Heroes Channel (AHC). With more than three decades of experience in the television industry, Kozak has been at the forefront of some of television’s most recognizable and lucrative series. She has been critical to the success of Investigation Discovery, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2018. During her tenure, the network has become a top 10 cable network during primetime and the number one ad-supported cable network in total day delivery for women, solidifying its rank as the top true crime destination on television today. Kozak helms a team of some of the most creative storytellers in the television industry, with a dedicated group of 18 executive producers, producers and associate producers who make more than 650 original hours of content for ID and AHC each year in both the New York and Silver Spring offices.
Great storytelling is the cornerstone of Investigation Discovery’s programming and Kozak has contributed to all the network’s marquee series, including the record-breaking franchise AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY, EVIL LIVES HERE, ON THE CASE WITH PAULA ZAHN; and fan favorites HOMICIDE HUNTER: LT. JOE KENDA and AMERICAN MONSTER to name a few. Kozak served as an executive producer on WERNER HERZOG’S INTO THE ABYSS – a critically acclaimed feature documentary for Investigation Discovery, and the follow up TV series, ON DEATH ROW.
Before joining the ID and AHC team, Kozak was vice president of production for Discovery’s Emerging Networks, where she executive produced several hit series including the Emmy-nominated THROUGH THE WORMHOLE with Morgan Freeman for Science Channel. Prior to this, Kozak was senior executive producer for Discovery Channel, where she was responsible for a range of series and specials including TWO WEEKS IN HELL, DESTROYED IN SECONDS and UFOS OVER EARTH. Previously, she served as vice president of production for Discovery Health and was senior executive producer for TLC, launching the popular series SAY YES TO THE DRESS in 2007.
Prior to joining Discovery Communications, Kozak served as series producer for BBC Productions USA with specific responsibility for launching TLC’s hit series WHAT NOT TO WEAR and three seasons of WHILE YOU WERE OUT. Before coming to the USA in 2002, Kozak launched SATURDAY KITCHEN for the BBC, just one of many highly successful food series she helmed.
During the early part of her career, Kozak was a producer, director, event producer and sports journalist – not to mention Channel 4’s host of the U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship in 1983. She left sports journalism to launch her own production company and produce extreme sport series, creating and producing four seasons of TRAILBLAZERS for ITV. In the late 1980s, she also specialized in military documentaries and directed the acclaimed BOMB DISPOSAL MAN for the BBC.
Kozak is a member of BAFTA and resides in New York City.