Sky exec moves for 7 Wonder

London-based production firm 7 Wonder has made its first major recruitment moves by recruiting a factual executive from UK satcaster Sky and appointing its first director of development.

Chris Wilson takes up the newly created role of head of popular factual at 7Wonder, which was set up in March by Australia’s Seven Network and former Maverick Television executives Alexandra Fraser, Liza Abbott and Simon Ellse.

Wilson will develop and manage his own slate and report creatively to Fraser, chief creative officer, and commercially to Abbott, the firm’s CEO.

He arrives from Sky, having joined in September 2012 as commissioning editor for factual, overseeing projects including the satcaster’s first fixed-rig series The Sun Set and All Aboard East Coast Trains.

Prior to joining Sky, Wilson worked as a freelance producer, director and editor on documentaries including The Crusades for BBC2, Who Do You Think You Are for BBC1 and I Shot John Lennon for Channel 4.

7 Wonder has also appointed Mish Mayer as its head of development. She will oversee factual, fact ent content and formats while working closely with the Australian development team at Seven Productions adapting existing Seven formats to appeal to the UK market, and vice versa.

Mayer has previously worked for UK prodcos including Objective Productions, Maverick Television, The Garden and TwoFour Broadcast.

7 Wonder’s launch followed the formation of the 7Beyond joint venture, between Seven Network and Beyond International, which focuses on the creation and development of new programmes and formats for the US television market.