John Hesling Named SVP of Programming by Shed Media US

John Hesling has been named Senior Vice President, Programming, of Shed Media US, it was announced today by Pam Healey, General Manager, Shed Media US. Hesling joins Shed Media US at a time of rapid growth for the company, which has seen seven new series ordered to production in the last nine months alone. In this newly created position, Hesling will oversee all programming at the company, reporting to Healey. The American production entity of the UK-based Shed Media Group (majority owned by Warner Bros. Television Group), Shed Media US is currently producing 13 series across eight networks, includingThe Real Housewives of New York City on Bravo, which returns for its sixth season on March 11.

"Shed Media aims to continue to build on its strong presence in unscripted with formats and character-driven programming for both broadcast and cable. John brings an incredible wealth of experience as both a showrunner and an executive, and has the respect of the creative community," said Healey. "His masterful abilities as a storyteller across a variety of genres - from entertainment to male-skewing programming - have allowed him to successfully adapt many international formats here in the U.S. John's skills and relationships perfectly complement the talented team here at Shed, and I am so excited to be working with him."

Hesling joins Shed Media US from BBC Worldwide Productions Los Angeles, where he was the executive producer of History Channel's Top Gear, which he launched in the U.S. in 2010. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Programming, BBC Worldwide Los Angeles, creating new and innovative unscripted programs for U.S. audiences as well as adapting successful BBC formats. He joined the BBC in 1999 and, during his time there, developed, produced and directed several high-profile series, includingDragons' Den for BBC2 (BAFTA-nominated and Banff Festival winner), and also led development and served as an executive producer on a number of shows for U.S. cable channels and networks, including NBC's Great American Road Trip, ABC's Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann., Lifetime's The Week the Women Went and TLC's One Week to Save Your Marriage.

After earning degrees from Durham University, he began his career in the independent sector, working as a multi-hyphenate writer/producer/editor/researcher on documentary series shot across the globe for the BBC and other UK and U.S. channels.

Shed Media US is the American production arm of the global media giant Shed Media Group (now majority owned by Warner Bros. Television Group), which consists of several of the top production companies in the UK: Ricochet Television, Wall to Wall, Twenty Twenty, Renegade Pictures, Watershed, Yalli and Headstrong Pictures. Shed Media US boasts a prolific and diverse slate of series that range from docu-soaps to entertainment formats. The company will produce more than 150 hours of finished television programs this year. In addition to The Real Housewives of New York, additional Shed Media US series include Hollywood Exes (premiering its third season April 30 on VH1), Basketball Wives Los Angeles (premiering its third season February 17 on VH1), APB with Troy Dunn(currently airing on TNT), Eric and Jessie: Game On (returning for a second season on E!), My Dysfunctional Family (premiering in April on CMT) and Who Do You Think You Are? (premiering its second season on TLC in summer 2014), among others.

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