Factual producer Wild Pictures has promoted Rachel Tierney to its new head of development as it looks to broaden its output into scripted programming and natural history.

Tierney, who has previously worked for Raw Television and Films Of Record, replaces Emma Goddard, who rejoined Landmark Films as a development executive earlier this week.

A producer at Wild Pictures since July, Tierney will be tasked with finding new areas for growth for the indie, which already has a script in development for a feature-length film.

The expansion follows the success of Wild’s move into prison docs, which has led to four ITV commissions including Strangeways, which drew an average audience of 5.5m (23%), and forthcoming two-parter Her Majesty’s Prison Aylesbury.

Wild, which secured 15 hours of commissions in 2012, expects to double its output in the next two years, driven by four primetime BBC and ITV series which have been ordered but remain under wraps.

Wild’s creative director, Paul Hamann, said: “Rachel is a hugely creative and tenacious producer and has kickstarted our much-expanded slate and development team.”

Tierney added: “I’m looking forward to building an expanded, creative and dedicated team to build on Wild’s considerable existing success.”