Derren Lawford’s DARE Pictures names Honey Bee co-founder as MD

Dee Hendry (Source: DARE)

Derren Lawford’s DARE Pictures has hired the co-founder and COO at UK indie Honey Bee Media as its MD.

Dee Hendry will manage business development, sales strategy and IP development at DARE, working with Lawford and Michelle Morgan, who has become executive chair of the prodco.

Michelle Morgan (Source: DARE)

Hendry’s appointment, which comes a month after US-based Asylum Entertainment bought into the prodco, follows a two-decade long career that most recently saw her working on Honey Bee shows Sky History’s Shipwreck Treasure Hunter and Frontmen for Reelz US.

Prior to this, Hendry was head of production & operations at David Olusaga’s indie Uplands, where she oversaw shows such as The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files for BBC Two and Channel 4’s The Unremembered: Britain’s Forgotten Heroes.

She has also had stints at Viacom, ITV, BBC and Fremantle.

DARE has also upped Fatima Shafiq, who joined last year as head of development, to become creative director with a remit that covers cross-platform documentaries and factual series, as well as scripted, podcast, digital and talent partnerships.

Former Woodcut exec Lawford said: “We’re lucky to have someone of Dee’s considerable expertise and acumen to help lay the foundations and create a robust infrastructure for us to execute and deliver on DARE’s mission.

“Key to our creative success to date has been Fatima, whose promotion is a true reflection of the entrepreneurialism she has for finding unique and bold stories from around the world. As we enter a new phase of growth, it’s also a huge plus for us to have someone of Michelle’s calibre and track record for creating purposeful and profitable opportunities taking a more active role in the business.”

Lawford launched DARE, which stands for Diversity, Allyship, Representation and Empowerment, in 2022 and has been behind shows including Crypto Queen: Visionary, Victim Or Villain? for Sky Deutschland and Channel 4, as well as Dalton’s Dream, which was produced for BBC’s Storyville strand.