Wattpad Studios Expands Team By Hiring First-Ever Head of Content Development and Production and Head of Stars

Less than a year ago, we launched Wattpad Studios to help the global entertainment industry discover amazing storytellers and incredible stories that can be adapted for film, TV, digital, and print. Today, we’re thrilled to share that we’ve expanded the Wattpad Studios team with the addition of Eric Lehrman, our new head of content development and production and Abby Ho, our new head of stars.

“Wattpad Studios is predicated on helping our amazing storytellers - the Wattpad Stars - grow their careers and realize their dreams by working with the entertainment and publishing industries,” said Head of Wattpad Studios Aron Levitz. “It’s exceptionally exciting to add Eric and Abby to the team to help our partners like Turner and Hachette take better advantage of the unique stories, talented writers, and phenomenal amount of data and insights to produce entertainment hits.”

Eric Lehrman joins Wattpad Studios as our new head of content development and production. Eric comes to Wattpad from USA Network where he served as vice president of original scripted series programming. Before that, he launched and headed the scripted division at All3Media America. Eric also spent several years at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions where he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Media.

In his new role, Eric will push Wattpad further into filmed content, both on and off the platform. He will also the oversee Wattpad’s television first-look deals with Turner and UCP.

“It's not every day that you are given the chance to oversee a library of over 375 million original stories! I'm honored to help amplify our creators' voices and our users' passion for storytelling by bringing Wattpad stories to life across TV, film and digital,” said Head of Content Development and Production Eric Lehrman.

We also welcome Abby Ho to the team as our new head of stars. The Wattpad Stars program is an accelerator for top storytellers; it offers a variety of paid and promotional opportunities to help writers grow their audience. As Head of Stars, Abby will develop new brand and content opportunities for writers and expand the program to include even more storytellers from around the world.

Previously, Abby was head of the Creator Network at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) where she developed and produced content with digital influencers across CBC properties. She also managed the national broadcaster’s partnership with Fullscreen. Abby has produced several digital properties for the CBC as well as Epitome Pictures Inc. where she previously worked. In 2015,  Abby received the Trailblazer Award from the Reelworld Film Festival and was named Playback magazine’s 5 to Watch in 2014.

“Wattpad Stars are incredible digital creators. I look forward to working closely with this diverse and talented group of storytellers to build their careers on and off the Wattpad platform,” said Head of Stars Abby Ho.

Wattpad recently welcomed entertainment veteran Philip Schuman to our advisory board. The addition of Eric and Abby to the Wattpad Studios team will continue to cement Wattpad’s position in the entertainment world as the best source of original content that’s backed by powerful data and insights. Welcome to Wattpad, Eric and Abby!