Endemol Shine US unscripted team named

The overall structure of Endemol Shine USA’s unscripted team has taken shape.

With Endemol USA and Shine America’s unscripted teams now merged, Endemol Shine USA unscripted programming president Eden Gaha (pictured) has named his team.

On the programming front, Georgie Hurford-Jones has been drafted in senior VP, unscripted programming.

She had most recently been overseeing NBC’s America’s Got Talent as senior VP of Simon Cowell’s Syco TV. She also launched ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent and oversaw Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, which NBC is adapting for the new season.

On the development side Michael Weinberg has become SVP, having previously been VP, unscripted development at Endemol USA. He will work with Chris Culvenor, who keeps the SVP, unscripted development post he held at Shine America.

Laura Gibson and Chris Potts have also been drafted in as VPs of unscripted development. Former ITV Studios UK exec Gibson joins from AOC Productions, where she was head of development, while Potts comes from Lionsgate-owned Banca Studio, where he had been VP, development.

Shine America VP Robin Feinberg has been promoted to SVP, unscripted programming, while his Shine America colleague Michael Brooks will remain in the same role at the enlarged group.

For production, Shine America’s Linda Giambrone named as executive VP and head of unscripted production, and Endemol USA EVP of production Rob Day continuing in his post and overseeing daytime shows Steve Harvey and Bullseye.

Finally, Shine America’s Rachel Dax has been promoted to VP, production, and reports to Giambrone.

“Along with Rob Smith, our EVP and head of unscripted television, we have assembled a truly stellar team of producers and production executives at Endemol Shine USA, many of whom are already hard at work on our existing hit franchises and also developing what we believe will be the next wave of unscripted hits,” said unscripted chief Gaha, who was named unscripted president earlier this year in March.