Apple hires Paramount exec as comedy chief

Apple has hired Dana Tuinier from The Paramount Network as creative executive for comedy within its Worldwide Video unit.

Tuinier will report to Apple’s head of development Matt Cherniss. She will work on Apple’s recently acquired half-hour comedy series, which will be executive produced by Kristen Wiig and produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

The new exec will also develop and oversee new comedy projects, which are coming in thick and fast at Apple. The streamer also picked-up a dramedy starring Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, which is yet to be named.

Tuinier joins from The Paramount Network where she acted as vice president of development and original programming ahead of its launch eleven days ago in the US.

During her time with the network, Tuinier oversaw comedies Younger (pictured) and Teachers. Additionally she overlooked the development of First Wives Club for a TV series adaptation.

Prior to joining Paramount, Tuinier acted as director of current programming at Fox, where she worked on series such as New Girl, Bob’s Burgers, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Almost Human and Glee.

Tuinier joins a host of recent hires for Apple, including programming execs Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg as worldwide video bosses and Channel 4’s Jay Hunt as its European chief.