Vancouver-based prodco Paperny Entertainment is to expand into the U.S. with the opening of a New York office this autumn, to be headed by former Discovery Communications and Sundance Channel exec Lynne Kirby (pictured).

Kirby will take on the new position of EVP of programming for Paperny Entertainment, which was formerly Paperny Films, and will oversee the U.S.-based operations of the company.

“We are fortunate to have built a strong production business in Canada and are very enthusiastic about opening our doors in the U.S.” said the indie’s president David Paperny. “Lynne’s years of experience overseeing a wide range of non-fiction programming in the U.S. make her an ideal hire for us.”

Kirby most recently worked on original programming for Discovery Communications networks Discovery Fit & Health and Planet Green as a senior programming consultant, prior to which she was SVP of original programming for Sundance Channel.

Her primary role at Paperny will be to develop and oversee production of series for American broadcasters, though she will also look to put together Canadian, U.S., and international coproductions.

Among Paperny’s series currently on air are Eat St (Food Network Canada, Cooking Channel U.S.), Consumed (HGTV Canada), Glutton for Punishment (Food Network Canada, TLC International), Dussault Inc (Rogers) and the Ron Sexsmith documentary Love Shines (HBO Canada).

From realscreen