'Pawn Stars' Production Co. Expands to L.A., Taps Former Pilgrim Studios Exec Rob Hill

Pawn Stars producers Leftfield Pictures is expanding to Los Angeles.

As part of the move, the New York-based reality production company has hired former Pilgrim Studios exec Rob Hill as vp development in the new L.A. office.

STORY: A&E's 'Pawn Stars' Heads to the U.K. 

“Leftfield Pictures has experienced enormous growth during the last four years, and for that we credit an extremely talented and hardworking development and production team, as well as collaborative network partners who demand the very best – and then push us to exceed their expectations," said Leftfield founder and executive producer Brent Montgomery. "While we may be best known for shows in the ‘hidden treasures’ genre we helped elevate with Pawn Stars, Leftfield has also been expanding into other areas of programming. We felt the time was right to establish a permanent presence in Los Angeles, allowing access to new and different types of talent on both sides of the camera."

Pawn premiered on History in 2009 and has since exploded in the ratings and spawned dozens of copycats and three popular spinoffs: American Restoration, Cajun Pawn Stars and Counting Cars. Earlier this month, a Pawn Stars UK iteration was announced. Leftfield is also repsonsible for the Oddities franchise at Science as well as ABC's Ball Boys, A&E's Monster In-Laws, CMT's Guntucky and Lifetime's upcoming Celebrity Yard Sale with Lance Bass.

Montgomery added of his new hire: “We could not be happier to welcome Rob Hill to Leftfield. He is a seasoned and aggressive development executive with creative, edgy ideas that we believe are perfectly in tune with the Leftfield brand as we enter this new phase in our evolution.” 

Q&A: How 'Pawn Stars' Was Born

Hill previously served as vp development at Pilgrim, where he worked on such series as Discovery’s Fast N’ Loud. Before Pilgrim, he headed up development for U.K.-based production company Optomen (Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait, Mary Portas Secret Shopper, Hairy Meals On Wheels) and Renegade Pictures (Popstar to Opera Star, Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare, Heston Mission Impossible).

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose