Endemol Shine hires ex-BBC2 boss

Endemol Shine UK has appointed the former controller of BBC2 to take up the newly created role of director of factual.

Kim Shillinglaw will lead strategy for factual across Endemol Shine UK and oversee management of production companies Dragonfly, Dragonfly West, DSP and Bristol-based Tigress.

She will start in September, reporting to Endemol Shine UK CEO Richard Johnston.

Peter Salmon, chief creative officer at Endemol Shine Group and until recently BBC Studios chief, said: “We see factual as a growth area and Kim as the ideal person to champion our ambitions.

“She is a creative who develops and delivers big ideas and has a great track record in innovation plus a wealth of high-level experience. She will be an incredibly valuable addition to the UK team”

Johnston said factual “is key to the UK group and Kim’s brief is to ensure we can be absolute top of our game in the genre, through supporting the teams, productions and shaping our factual strategy.”

Shillinglaw added: “It’s a very exciting time to join Endemol Shine UK, there is a rich track record in factual and genuine desire to build and grow this further.”

Shillinglaw left the BBC in January following a reshuffle at the UK pubcaster that saw Charlotte Moore take overall control of the broadcaster’s channels and digital operations.

Shillinglaw’s role was closed and an editor position created in its place, which has been filled by Patrick Holland.

She had held numerous senior commissioning positions since 2006, most recently with BBC2 and BBC4, and worked on shows including The Real Marigold Hotel, The Town That Took on The Tax Man, Chinese School: are British Kids Tough Enough and The Detectives.