Endemol Shine North America has tapped Sharon Hall to oversee its scripted operations as president of Endemol Shine Studios.
Hall comes to Endemol Shine after most recently serving as president of the TV arm of Alcon Entertainment. Her appointment follows the departure last month of Carolyn Bernstein as Endemol Shine’s exec VP of scripted programming for a new role overseeing scripted activity at National Geographic Channel.
Hall reports to Endemol Shine North America CEOs Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin. Jeremy Gold, exec VP of Endemol Shine Studios and longtime steward of the company’s shows, will report to Hall.
“Sharon has helped conceive and develop many of the top dramas of the last decade and brings a great deal of experience and deep relationships with writers, producers and actors alike,” said Corwin and Abrego.
Hall’s mandate will be to spearhead scripted development and production in the U.S. as well as working with Endemol Shine’s many affiliated companies overseas on series adaptations, talent scouting and format deals. Endemol Shine to date has fielded such adaptation as Fox’s “Gracepoint,” a remake of the U.K.’s “Broadchurch,” and FX’s “The Bridge,” based on a Scandinavian format.
Popular on Variety
At present Endemol Shine has 19 scripted projects in various stages of development, plus current shows in AMC’s “Hell on Wheels” and DirecTV’s “Kingdom.” Comedy “I’m Dying Up Here” just nabbed a series order from Showtime. And “Utopia” is a long-gestating fantasy drama project at HBO based on a hit British series. “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn has been working on scripts for “Utopia” that has been an on-again, off-again project for director David Fincher.
Hall’s track record at Alcon included the well-reviewed new Syfy series “The Expanse.” Before Alcon, she headed drama development for Sony Pictures TV where she helped shepherd AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” Showtime’s “Masters of Sex,” FX/DirecTV’s “Damages” and FX’s “Justified.”
Hall cited Endemol Shine’s breadth as an asset in the hunt for talent and source material. “The company’s resources, especially the access to top talent and award-winning production companies, offer incredible opportunities,” she said.
Earlier in her career, Hall worked in development at MTM Productions and worked in advertising at BBDO Worldwide. She got her start as a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe before moving into development at Viacom and MGM.
