Darlow Smithson Taps A&E Executive for U.S. Operation

LONDON/NEW YORK, August 9: Darlow Smithson Productions, an
IMG Media company, has appointed A&E Television Networks veteran Didi
O’Hearn as VP of U.S. productions, based in IMG’s New York offices, to support
the company’s continued growth in the American market.

In her new role, effective immediately, O’Hearn will report
to Tom Brisley, creative director for DSP, and will be responsible for
overseeing and growing the development and production of U.S.-based
commissions.

O’Hearn comes to the position from A&E Television
Networks, where she most recently served as VP for non-fiction and alternative
programming. In her 16 years with the company, O’Hearn operated as a key player
in the development of the network, including developing and launching the
reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels,
the second-highest-rated original series on the network in key demographics,
recently renewed for a third season.

The appointment follows IMG Entertainment’s signing of
leading Los-Angeles-based TV producers Bruce Beresford Redman and Rick Hurvitz,
who created the MTV series Pimp My Ride,
among other shows.