Endemol Shine poaches BBC programming exec

Former BBC channel controller Kim Shillinglaw has hired BBC formats and features commissioning boss Donna Clark to run Darlow Smithson.

Former BBC Two and Four chief Kim Shillinglaw became director of factual at Endemol Shine UK last year, having left the UK pubcaster amid its restructuring.

She has now brought in ex-colleague Clark (left) who will join Endemol Shine prodco DSP as joint managing director, working alongside existing MD Emily Dalton.

“I’m a great believer in the audience appetite for content rich popular factual,” Shillinglaw (right) said.

“With her commitment to high quality popular factual, love of rolling her sleeves up to get a big show right and experience across programme making and commissioning, I’m delighted Donna is joining to help build on Emily’s terrific creativity at DSP”.

Clark is currently acting head of formats and features commissioning at the BBC and her credits include Eat Well for Less, The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes and Gardeners’ World.

Prior to the BBC she was at All3Media prodco Lion TV where she exec produced series including Don’t Tell the Bride and The WI Lady’s Guide to Brothels.

She said: “I’ve always admired the quality output of DSP and can’t wait to join the brilliant team to create the next generation of popular, content-rich factual hits and to really take the company into new exciting areas.”

Emily Dalton added that Clark’s hire will push DSP into new areas of programming. “Donna’s track record in clever, original popular factual and formats makes her the perfect fit to help DSP grow into new areas,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to working with her.”

Endemol acquired DSP in 2009, before its merger with Shine. The prodco’s founders left several years later to form a new content company, Arrow Media.