Leopard Films USA poaches Dave Hamilton from Endemol

Leopard Films USA has recruited Dave Hamilton as its senior VP. He joins from Endemol USA and will lead the indie’s strategic operations in the US.

Leopard Films USA is part of production and distribution group Argonon and Hamilton will report to the group’s CEO James Burstall. He starts in his new role on April 8.

In the role Hamilton will spearhead Leopard’s expansion into new genres, with a strong focus on character-driven docusoap, formats and factual entertainment.

The executive set up Endemol’s New York office and, as VP of development, was responsible for developing formats including Treasure Detective (CNBC), Find Me My Man (Oxygen) and Freakshow (AMC).

He has also worked at VH1, where he developed reality formats including Tool Academy, Scream Queens and What Chilli Wants.

“Dave is a major signing,” said James Burstall. “We are going to build Leopard Films USA into the home of the best creative talent and innovation in the US.”

Hamilton said: “I am thrilled to be joining Leopard Films USA at this exciting point in its journey. My mandate is to develop exciting new content, building on Leopard’s success across lifestyle formats and branded entertainment by expanding our creative footprint into new genres, including character-driven docusoaps.”