Shaftesbury to launch US division

Canadian producer and distributor Shaftesbury is launching a US division and has hired former Cookie Jar Entertainment exec Tom Mazza to head it.

The company, which produces series including The Listener, Murdoch Mysteries, Good Dog and Life with Derek, will open the office in Los Angeles in September.

It has also hired senior development executive Maggie Murphy to work alongside Mazza. Mazza was previously executive vice president and head of worldwide television at kids producer Cookie Jar and has held roles at Columbia TriStar Network Television (now known as Sony Pictures Television) and Paramount Network Television.

Murphy, who also joins from Cookie Jar, was previously president at Kiefer Sutherland’s production company Eastside Entertainment and senior vice president of drama development at UPN.

“There is great opportunity for joint development in production between Canada and the United States, and we are thrilled to be joining such a prolific and dynamic Canadian production company, building on their incredibly successful business,” said Mazza.