Toronto-headquartered Blink49 Studios has expanded its unscripted team with the appointments of former Entertainment One (eOne) exec Tara Long and Bounce TV’s Ri-Karlo Handy.

Long has been tapped as president of global unscripted television, beginning effective immediately.

Based in L.A., Long will manage the unscripted division’s operations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as oversee development for its U.S. television slate. She reports to CEO John Morayniss.

As part of the new global structure of the unscripted division, Blink49’s Vancouver-based EVP Toby Dormer now reports to Long, while VP Allison Brough continues to report to Dormer.

Morayniss and Long previously worked together at eOne’s global television unit, where she launched its unscripted slate, including franchises such as Ex on the Beach, The Impact, and Growing up Hip Hop, as well as projects like Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige’s My Life.

“Tara has established herself as a distinctive force in the market, earning a stellar reputation for delivering outstanding alternative programming that resonates with global audiences,” said Morayniss in a statement, adding that her commitment to storytelling and her relationships with talent and buyers will help “build a powerhouse, best in class alternative division.”

Handy has been appointed as SVP, unscripted, working with Long on Blink49’s unscripted slate.

He has more than 25 years of experience as a producer and editor, and was VP of original programming at Bounce TV, where he created the series Saints & Sinners. He was also the showrunner of the reality series Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward and docuseries Rebuilding Black Wall Street. He is also the founder and CEO of The Handy Foundation, which provides career support for underrepresented below-the-line talent in the film and TV industry.

“Ri-Karlo’s industry-respected expertise and extensive network will undoubtedly help elevate projects in the pursuit of excellence and compelling unscripted entertainment,” said Long.

Image courtesy of Blink49 Studios