Leopard takes Deen for food

Argonon-owned Leopard Films USA has hired Emmy-winning producer Lauren Deen to head a food-themed content division.

Lauren Deen

Deen, also a chef and best-selling cookery author, has come in as associate VP of development. The role will see her heading development and production of all food-themed programmes at the New York-based division, serving as executive producer.

Leopard and Deen are currently in production on a new series for Cooking Channel and a pilot for Food Network. Various other projects are in the pipeline.

Deen is best known as the developer and producer of several food-themed series, including the Emmy-winning Grill It! With Bobby Flay and Next Food Network Star, both for Food Network. She has also executive produced two web series for premium YouTube channel Hungry with LA-based Electus.

Leopard Films USA president Nick Rigg welcomed her appointment by claiming her work with the likes of Flay and Martha Stewart meant she was “one of the reasons the food TV genre has exploded in recent years.”

Leopard Films USA is part of the Argonon production/distribution group, which was created last year through the merger of UK prodocs Leopard Films and Remedy Productions. Last month, the company announced Remedy co-founder Toby Dormer was moving to Canada to head Remedy’s local prodco in Toronto.