Universal Television hires for alternative

NBCUniversal (NBCU) subsidiary Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS) has hired Endemol Shine North America’s senior VP of unscripted series and specials.

Georgie Hurford-Jones

Georgie Hurford-Jones will oversee current programming at UTAS, reporting to president Toby Gorman.

Hurford-Jones has spent the past five years at Endemol Shine North America, serving as an executive producer on Fox’s Masterchef and Masterchef Junior and USA Network’s Biggest Loser reboot.

She has also held roles at Simon Cowell’s Syco and was an executive producer of America’s Got Talent between 2007 and 2012.

Former FremantleMedia North America exec Gorman replaced Meredith Ahr atop UTAS earlier this year after Ahr was promoted to president of NBC Entertainment’s alternative and reality group.

“We continue to build a world-class team for our rapidly growing studio, and Georgie is one of television’s most accomplished and respected unscripted executives,” said Gorman.

“Her track record as both a producer and executive is second to none, yielding some of the biggest and most successful formats to date.”