'The Apprentice' exec producer Michele Kurland joins Sky

Sky has hired Michele Kurland, the Talkback Thames executive responsible for taking The Apprentice onto primetime BBC One, as its new head of factual entertainment.

Kurland, who is currently head of factual entertainment at the Fremantle Media-owned production company, will oversee all factual entertainment commissioning across Sky's portfolio of channels - Sky1, Sky Living, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts.

Her brief will include a wide range of shows, including Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model on Sky Living, Fame in the Frame on Sky Arts, the Winners strand on Sky1 and Sky Atlantic's upcoming Morgan Spurlock's New Britain.

She replaces the outgoing Mark Sammon.

Sky's director commissioning Stuart Murphy said: "I am so delighted Michele is joining Sky as head of factual entertainment. We worked together at the BBC and I have been trying for years to work with her again.

"Her attention to detail, love of talent, and ability to make funny, dramatic TV out of people selling lamps shaped like kettles are second to none. We are very lucky to have her join to work across the Sky Entertainment portfolio with the existing and brilliant commissioning team.

"I'd like to once again thank Mark Sammon, the outgoing head, for all his work, and for the commissioning execs, Sadia Butt and Bernadette Morley, for taking on additional workload during the transition."

Kurland joined Talkback Thames in July 2006 to executive produce the third series of BBC Two's The Apprentice. She was then responsible for the show's successful move to BBC One, leading to her being appointed head of factual entertainment in June 2007.

Her production credits also include The Apprentice spinoff You're Fired, along with the launch of Young Apprentice. Prior to Talkback Thames, she worked at the BBC for 13 years, where she helped develop Can Gerry Robinson Save the NHS?, I'll Show them Who's Boss and Living The Dream, and Trouble at the Top.

"I've had an amazing time working at Talkback Thames and with everyone there, but the challenge of moving from production into commissioning was an opportunity I couldn't resist," said Kurland.

"I'm looking forward to working with Stuart again and I feel it is a really exciting time to be moving to Sky."

Kurland's arrival follows the appointment of Phil Edgar Jones, a production industry heavyweight and former creative director of Big Brother, as Sky's new head of entertainment.

Murphy's team also includes Celia Taylor as head of factual, Anne Mensah as head of drama and Lucy Lumsden as head of comedy.

> Talkback Thames UK production company to be split up