NBCU format exec Pilkington departs

The format chief at NBCUniversal (NBCU)’s International Studios division has left the company to embark on a career change.

Yvonne Pilkington

Yvonne Pilkington had been with NBCU International Studios (NBCUIS) since 2009 and was most recently senior VP of format sales and production.

She worked on remakes of formats including Top Chef and Saturday Night Live, while also setting up a development partnership with South Korean broadcaster MBC late last year.

Prior to working for London-based NBCUIS, Pilkington held roles at Eyeworks Distribution and All3Media International.

NBCUIS said Pilkington had left “to embark on a new direction” and is now set to start a masters degree in creative writing. The company added that a replacement would be revealed in due course.

Pilkington’s exit comes after the closure of formats development division Tellycopter and the departure of David Mortimer, NBCU International Television Production’s former senior VP of factual and entertainment, who left last year to join UK production group Tinopolis.