Deirdre “Didi” O’Hearn serves as Senior Vice President of Programming and Development for Scripps Networks Interactive’s brands, Food Network and Cooking Channel. In this role, she oversees the existing programming slate, both daytime and primetime, and the creation of new shows for both networks.

O’Hearn joined Scripps Networks from WE tv where, as Vice President of Development and Talent, she was responsible for creating brand defining original series and specials and was instrumental in developing a number of WE tv’s popular series, including Mary Mary, Kendra On Top and L.A. Hair. Prior to WE tv, O’Hearn served as Vice President in charge of the New York office of non-fiction media producer Darlow Smithson Productions.

An industry veteran, O’Hearn spent 16 years at A&E Television Networks. As Vice President of Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming she developed and launched the hit reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels. She also served as the Director of Programming for the Biography Channel and Executive Producer of the Emmy® Award-winning Biography series. Before joining the A&E’s Biography Channel, O’Hearn served 10 years as a producer and senior producer of programming for A&E Network and HISTORY, where she wrote and produced biographies on F. Scott Fitzgerald, Truman Capote, Sen. John McCain and Eva Peron.

O’Hearn is the winner of five Golden Eagle Awards and has been nominated for six Emmy® Awards. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and her master’s degree from the Columbia School of Journalism. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT).

Speaking on: Trendwatch: Kids Get the Darndest Ratings