Glasgow-based media firm STV said it appointed David Mortimer — the man behind hit shows including Dragons’ Den, Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends and 71 Degrees North — as managing director of STV Productions.

Mortimer joins STV from Tinopolis – the UK’s largest independent production group – where he was director of content.

STV said that prior to that, Mortimer was Senior Vice President, Factual & Entertainment at NBC Universal, “where he quadrupled revenues growing unscripted output from just 12 hours in 2011 to more than 150 hours in 2016 by winning commissions from key territories including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France and Germany …

“Programmes included Made In Chelsea (Channel 4), The Real Housewives franchise (Bravo) and Driving School Of Mum & Dad (Sky 1).”

STV said that in his new role, Mortimer will take charge of STV’s production teams in Glasgow and London “with a brief to turn STV into one of the UK’s leading production companies, repositioning the brand to focus on developing returning series for terrestrial and SVOD players across both scripted and unscripted programming, and taking full advantage of the growing demand for quality programming from the nations and regions.”

Mortimer said: “I think there’s huge untapped potential at STV Productions, so I can’t wait to get going and help our team develop and sell shows in the UK and internationally.

“The opportunity to launch our own formats on STV is particularly exciting and potentially gives us an amazing competitive advantage.”

Simon Pitts, CEO of STV, said: “David’s track record as a creative leader is second to none.

“He has developed, produced and run some of the biggest shows on television, both in the UK and the US, and his vast experience will help us establish STV Productions as a major industry player over the next few years.”