Disney-owned US network Freeform has promoted Jamila Hunter to oversee originals and development. “As we venture into non-fiction, it was crucial to find an executive with a finger on the pulse of what’s relevant,” President of Freeform, Tara Duncan said. “Jihan is a hip and seasoned executive who brings pedigree and a fresh perspective to the network. I am excited to have these two powerhouses leading the team.”
Hunter, who previously served as SVP of current & alternative programming, will now become EVP of originals & development at the network. She is set to report to Duncan, who was appointed President of Freeform earlier this year. The promotion comes after Lauren Corrao, Freeform’s executive VP of original programming and development, left Disney at the beginning of October. This followed Netflix alum Tara Duncan, to whom Hunter reports, being named Freeform president earlier this year.
Before joining Freeform last year, Hunter was president of Khalabo Ink Society, Kenya Barris’s Netflix-based production company. She joined the company in 2018 after serving as senior VP of ABC comedy since 2016. During her time at ABC, Hunter helped bring Barris’s Black-ish to air, along with "Fresh Off the Boat," "The Real O’Neals," and "Last Man Standing." Freeform has also appointed Jihan Robinson as VP of alternative programming, overseeing non-fiction and alternative content and reporting to Hunter.
Robinson previously served as head of documentaries at short-form video app Quibi, which was shut down earlier this year after failing to attract an audience. The rejig at Freeform follows Chairman of entertainment at Walt Disney Television Dana Walden’s recent reorganization of the media giant’s huge television production and original content businesses.