Icon fills development role

Icon Films, the UK-based factual prodco behind Animal Planet’s River Monsters, has promoted one of its executive producers to become head of development at the company.

Stephen McQuillan will head up Icon’s strategy to increase its output, while continuing to exec produce selected projects.

McQuillan, who joined Icon in 2013, said the position would allow him to seek growth in new areas and expand the firm’s factual format slate.

Formed in 1990, Icon has produced more than 300 hours of factual programming for international broadcasters, with River Monsters now in its seventh run on Animal Planet in the US.

The prodco has also been behind series including Africa’s Fishing Leopards for BBC in the UK and Nat Geo Wild in the US, Survive The Tribe for National Geographic Channels and Africa’s Giant Killers for BBC and Animal Planet.