New SVP of Scripted Originals at Paramount Network

Paramount Network has promoted Lauren Ruggiero to senior VP of scripted original series.

She will continue to report to Keith Cox, president of development and production at Paramount Network and TV Land, and be based in Viacom’s Hollywood offices. In her elevated position, Ruggiero will lead the scripted development team and will oversee all scripted programming for Paramount Network, from development through production.

Ruggiero joined Paramount Network in 2015 and most recently served as VP of scripted original series. Since joining Paramount Network, she has been involved in all scripted projects in various stages of development, including projects from major studio players, independents and several developed in-house, and has served as an executive in charge of production for Yellowstone, as well as the Emmy-nominated WACO.

Ruggiero started her career in entertainment at the William Morris Agency as an agent trainee in the television literary department. After a year in the agency trenches, she moved on to become a coordinator of original programming at AMC, where she worked on various hit series, including Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Killing and The Walking Dead. Ruggiero also served as a co-producer on the limited event series Tut which aired on Spike TV.

Cox said, “Lauren is a brilliant executive who has been instrumental in building Paramount Network as a home for powerful storytelling, exemplified by our brand-defining hit, Yellowstone. Together with the series’ immensely talented creators, cast and crew, she has helped make it the biggest success on television across the past two summers and I look forward to her continued success across our growing and impressive scripted slate.”