MTV has promoted Lauren Dolgen to head of reality programming and executive vice president of series development for the network.
The promotion comes after the network combined the East Coast and West Coast teams with layoffs hitting the New York staff hardest as the programming department will be primarily headquartered in Los Angeles.
An MTV representative was unable to provide TheWrap a specific number for those losing jobs in the reorganization, but about 12 percent of MTV’s staff is expected to be let go as the company continues its streamlining and restructuring plans.
Formerly the head of West Coast reality and EVP of Series Development, Dolgen will continue to report to MTV programming president Susanne Daniels and be based in Santa Monica, California. She will be in charge of the network’s reality programming and development. That will include current hits like “Catfish,” the “Teen Mom” franchise and upcoming series “Follow the Rules” and “Greatest Party Story Ever.”
“Lauren eats sleeps and breathes pop culture, creativity, and storytelling, and her passion is evident in the many hit series she’s brought to air,” Daniels said in a statement. “With Lauren’s expertise and unique sensibility, we know our Reality Development teams will thrive under her unified leadership.”
Among the highlights of Dolgen’s 18-year tenure at MTV, she created and developed the docu-series “16 and Pregnant” in 2009, as well as its spinoffs “Teen Mom” and “Teen Mom 2.”
Mina Lefevre, MTV’s SVP and head of Scripted Development, remains with the company to oversee its scripted slate from Santa Monica, including current series “Faking It,” “Finding Carter,” “Eye Candy,” “Awkward” and “Teen Wolf,” and upcoming series “Scream” and “The Shannara Chronicles.”
Streamlining and restructuring plans have also hit VH1 and CMT, as well as the company’s movie studios.