Wattpad is continuing to build out its Studios team, which pacts with entertainment industry partners to develop user-generated stories into TV, film, digital video, and print projects.
The Toronto-headquartered company has named Lindsey Ramey director of content development and production for Wattpad Studios, where she will be based out of its Los Angeles offices. Ramey previously served as a producing consultant for Super Deluxe and Fullscreen, where she worked on Sundance Now‘s This Close and Magic Funhouse, respectively. Prior to that, she held VP positions at both Heyday Films and Hypnotic, where she oversaw feature film development.
Ramey will report to Eric Lehrman, Wattpad Studios’ head of content development and production, who joined the company from USA Network last year. Wattpad plans to add 40 positions this year to support its international entertainment business — as well as to ramp up machine learning and interactive storytelling features. Other recent hires and promotions include head of Asia Dexter Ong, director of business development for the U.S. and Europe Kelly Steen, and deputy general manager of publishing Ashleigh Gardner.
“Lindsey’s appointment is both the next step in our entertainment expansion and a signal that our data-backed approach is working,” said Wattpad Studios head Aron Levitz. “Lindsey’s expertise in content development is an incredible asset to our Wattpad Studios team and will prove indispensable to our partners.”
To date, Wattpad — which has 65 million users and which raised $51 million in January — has teamed with Universal Cable Productions, Sony Pictures Television, AwesomenessTV, and CW Seed on turning its users’ stories into series and films.
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