Warner Bros’ Shed poaches BBCWW Top Gear exec

The US division of Warner Bros.-owned producer Shed has recruited John Hesling as its senior VP, programming.

Hesling joins Shed Media US from the BBC Worldwide’s LA production base where he was executive producer of motoring series Top Gear, the US version of which he launched on cable net History in 2010.

In the newly created role at Shed he will oversee all of the prodco’s slate, which stretches to 13 current series including The Real Housewives of New York City.

The new Shed Media US recruit will report to the company’s general manager Pam Healey. She said: “John brings an incredible wealth of experience as both a showrunner and an executive, and has the respect of the creative community. 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 US.”

Hesling has been at UK pubcaster the BBC since 1999 and served as exec producer on a number of its US projects 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.