Hulu’s originals chief Beatrice Springborn exits to lead NBCUniversal’s UCP

Beatrice Springborn

Hulu’s head of originals Beatrice Springborn is leaving the Disney-owned streamer to replace Dawn Olmstead as president at Universal Cable Productions (UCP).

Springborn will oversee the entire slate at NBCUniversal-owned UCP, including Netflix drama The Umbrella Academy and forthcoming drama Joe Exotic, which is being produced for sibling streamer Peacock, cabler USA and NBC.

She replaces Omstead at UCP, who is leaving to join Defending Jacob and True Detective producer Anonymous Content as its new CEO, following the death of founder and CEO Steve Golin 18 months ago.

Springborn will report into Universal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe, who was upped from her previous role as chief of Universal Television in September as part of NBCUniversal’s extensive restructuring.

Igbokwe said: “If you want to build a winning team, you have to draft all-star players. Beatrice has broad industry experience and is one of the town’s most respected executives.

Pearlena Igbokwe

“The distinctive series that she has championed throughout her career speak to her creative instincts and I’m confident that she is the right person to grow the UCP brand while continuing to position the studio as one of the industry’s leading suppliers of premium television.”

Springborn added: “[Igbokwe] and her team approach the business with an entrepreneurial, innovative and creative spirit while Dawn Olmstead and her team built UCP into a studio known for its best-in-class talent and series.

“I’m thrilled to join such an impressive organisation that aligns with so much of what I have done and am excited to have the opportunity to further their tremendous growth.”

NBCU’s new-look Universal

Igbokwe’s remit now stretches across the company’s global TV business and includes UCP, Universal Television – now headed up by Erin Underhill – and NBCU International Studios. The latter, which was run by Jeff Wachtel who left in October, is currently seeking a new chief.

Erin Underhill

She has also been adapting her team following the exit of NBCU’s unscripted chief Meredith Ahr, who left the company in October. She previously had a remit across all unscripted programming for the network, as well as Universal Television Alternative Studios (UTAS).

The departure followed that of Ahr’s former boss Paul Telegdy, who left the US studio giant in August at the same time as NBCU restructured its operations to focus on nascent streamer Peacock. As part of those changes, former Warner Bros. TV exec Susan Rovner was appointed as its new entertainment chief.

Springborn had been with Hulu for six years, having originally joined as VP of development. She worked on shows including Little Fires Everywhere and Ramy, as well as the streamer’s UCP-produced drama The Act.

She had also had stints at Storyline Entertainment prior to joining Hulu, which last week moved its originals division under the purview of Dana Walden following a rejig of her role as part of ongoing changes at Disney.