Endemol Shine USA Sets New Unscripted Team

“Dancing With the Stars” veteran Linda Giambrone as executive vice president and head of unscripted production

Endemol Shine USA the unscripted U.S. division of Endemol Shine North America, has set its new programming team, naming former Shine America executive vice president and head of production  Linda Giambrone (pictured above) as executive vice president and head of unscripted production.

The newly established team, which combines the teams of Endemol USA and Shine America, also includes Georgie Hurford-Jones, a former senior vice president of Simon Cowell‘s Syco TV whose credits include “America’s Got Talent” and “Britain’s Got Talent.” Hurford-Jones will serve as senior vice president, unscripted programming.

Michael Weinberg, previously vice president, unscripted programming for Endemol USA, has been bumped up to senior vice president development on the newly assembled team. Weinberg’s credits include “Steve Harvey,” “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and “Bullseye.”

Former Shine America vice president, production Rachel Dax will now serve as senior vice president, unscripted production, overseeing Endemol Shine USA’s unscripted slate, which includes “The Island” and “Aloha Vet.”

The new team also includes Robin Feinberg as senior vice president, unscripted programming and Laura Gibson and Christopher Potts, who will serve as vice presidents of development.

Endemol Shine North America’s unscripted programming includes the CBS smash “Big Brother,” Fox’s “MaserChef” and “MasterChef Junior,” NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and ABC’s “Wipeout.”

“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,” Endemol Shine USA President, Unscripted Programming Eden Gaha said.

Read below for the full rundown of the new team.

PRODUCTION

Giambrone, who was formerly executive vice president and head of Production for Shine America, will now oversee all unscripted production efforts for Endemol Shine USA. Giambrone, who had served as Shine America’s top unscripted production executive since June 2011, is an Emmy-nominated producer and production executive whose credits include oversight of variety, talk, news, game, live events and reality series. Prior to joining Shine America, Giambrone was the Senior Vice President of BBC Worldwide Productions, where she was responsible for the company’s unscripted programming initiatives, including the successful launch of “Dancing With the Stars” on ABC.

Rob Day, who had served as executive vice president of Production for Endemol USA, will continue in his role for Endemol Shine USA, overseeing production on daytime syndicated series “Steve Harvey,” “Bullseye” and special projects for the company.

Rachel Dax, who formerly was vice president, production for Shine America, has been promoted to senior vice president, Unscripted Production, Endemol Shine USA, reporting to Giambrone. Dax will oversee all day-to-day production for Endemol Shine USA’s unscripted programming, including “The Island,” “Aloha Vet,” among many other series. Prior to joining Shine America, Dax was head of Production for High Noon Entertainment’s West Coast operations.

PROGRAMMING

Award-winning producer and TV executive Georgie Hurford-Jones, who has been responsible for some of the top unscripted formats in the world, has joined Endemol Shine USA as senior vice president of Unscripted Programming.

Prior to joining Endemol Shine, Hurford-Jones oversaw NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” after launching ITV’s BAFTA Award-winning “Britain’s Got Talent,” while serving as senior vice president of Simon Cowell‘s Syco TV. Hurford-Jones was also formerly in charge of ITV’s award-winning UK series, “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.”

Robin Feinberg has been also been named senior vice president, Unscripted Programming for Endemol Shine USA. Feinberg, who was formerly vice president, Unscripted Programming for Shine America, will continue to oversee day-to-day programming efforts for such series as “Fake Off” “Restaurant Startup” and “Aloha Vet.” Feinberg has a wide-range of experience across different programming genres including documentary, challenge, makeover and game shows. Her producer credits include “Legally Blonde,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Ultimate Cake Off,” “For Love or Money” and “Sorority Life.”

Michael Brooks, who was previously senior vice president, Programming, Shine America, will continue serving in that role for Endemol Shine USA. Brooks is currently overseeing programming efforts for “The Biggest Loser” and “The Island.”

DEVELOPMENT

Emmy Award-winning producer and show-runner Michael Weinberg has been promoted to senior vice president, Development. Weinberg, who was formerly vice president, Unscripted Development for Endemol USA, has overseen development for Daytime Emmy Award-winning syndicated series “Steve Harvey,” “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution” (FOX), “Bullseye” and numerous other series.  Prior to joining Endemol, Weinberg played an integral role in the launches of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Later with Bob Costas” and also served as a co-executive producer of “America’s Got Talent.”

Weinberg works alongside Chris Culvenor, who was previously senior vice president, Unscripted Development at Shine America and now serves in the same capacity for Endemol Shine USA. Culvenor recently developed such series as “Fake Off,” “Restaurant Startup” and the U.S. adaptation of “The Island.” He joined Shine America in 2012 from Shine Australia, where as head of development, he oversaw the launch of Australian formats of “MasterChef,” “The Biggest Loser” and “The Voice,” among others.

Laura Gibson and Christopher Potts have both joined the Endemol Shine USA team as vice presidents of unscripted development, reporting to Culvenor. Gibson joins from AOC Productions, where she was formerly head of Development, overseeing both entertainment formats and scripted programming. Gibson’s other former positions include creative director, Comedy Entertainment, ITV Studios UK and head of Entertainment Development for Endemol Shine-owned Princess Productions in the U.K.

Potts comes to Endemol Shine from Lionsgate’s Banca Studio, where he had served as vice president, Development, overseeing development on shows including “Celebrity Liar” (CW), and “Christina Milian: Turned Up” (E!).  Previously Potts was head of Development for NBC Universal’s Monkey Kingdom, where he co-created and developed the BAFTA-winning series “Made in Chelsea” and also served as a development executive for Endemol Shine-owned Tiger Aspect.

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