Hallmark taps Wondwossen ‘Wondu’ Dikran to grow international partnerships

Hallmark Media in the US has appointed Wondwossen ‘Wondu’ Dikran as senior VP of its fledgling division Hallmark Studios as it eyes more romcom, mystery movies and series.

Wondwossen ‘Wondu’ Dikran

Dikran will report to Lisa Hamilton Daly, executive VP of programming and will collaborate with the development team and the forthcoming senior VP of talent strategy, who is yet to be appointed.

Dikran will manage relationships with creatives and partners, while identifying new domestic and international partnerships that provide opportunities for “continued innovation and production efficiencies,” Hallmark said.

He was most recently head of development and production at Falkon Entertainment. Prior to Falkon, he was head of production at NBC Universal/Dreamworks TV.

Hallmark Studios has been launched after a recent restructure of Hallmark Media’s programming division as it ups investment in originals.

Hallmark Media is seeking to grow its holiday content, advance ongoing series development and deepen its investment in romcom and mystery movies and series.

Hallmark Media operates three cable networks, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark Family, plus subscription streaming service Hallmark Movies Now.

Daly said Dikran “brings a wealth of experience in the entertainment industry and a strategic vision and collaborative approach that will prove instrumental in shaping the future of production for Hallmark across linear and SVoD.”