Channel 4 and Objective Media Group America alum joins Disney as commissioner

Former Channel 4 commissioner and Objective Media Group (OMG) America president, Jilly Pearce, has joined Disney to lead unscripted development at ABC and Hulu.

As senior vice-president of unscripted programming, Pearce will be responsible for the development and current programming slate, overseeing titles including American Idol and The Bachelor on ABC, and Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke and The Kardashians.

She will report to the executive vice-president of unscripted and alternative entertainment at Walt Disney Television Rob Mills.

Pearce moved to LA in 2017 to join All3Media label OMG America, exec producing shows including The Cube and Lingo for CBS and Worst Cooks in America for the Food Network. She was promoted to president in 2022 to lead development and production and left the company two years later.

Before that, she spent four years as commissioning editor of formats at Channel 4, overseeing shows including Made In Chelsea, Lego Masters and Seven Year Switch.

She has also previously worked as head of television at Pulse Films, executive producer at Maverick Television and director of development at MTV.

Mills said: “Jilly’s extensive experience spanning both the network and production sectors brings invaluable insight and leadership to our organisation.

“Her energy and vision will undoubtedly elevate and inspire our work.”

Pearce added: “I’m excited to join Craig Erwich, Rob Mills and their incredible teams at Disney Entertainment Television – the force behind some of the most innovative and compelling shows on television. I look forward to building on their successful relationships and collaborating on entertaining new formats and beloved returning series.”