Silverman’s Electus acquires US production company

Ben Silverman’s Electus has acquired US production company Mannahatta and is also expanding its in-house production team.

IAC-backed Electus has acquired the production company, which is run by Tim Puntillo, and will subsequently set up a new as-yet-unnamed production arm with Puntillo.

Puntillo is exec producer of GSN’s gameshows Friend or Foe and Baggage, which is hosted by Jerry Springer, NBC’s Minute To Win It and Style Network’s Ruby and has also worked on Extreme Chef and Chef Hunter.

Separately, Electus has hired Justin Dudek as executive in charge of production and Allison Kaz as head of casting and talent. Dudek, who has worked on ABC’s The Bachelor, Fox’s Joe Millionaire and My Big, Fat Obnoxious Fiancee, previously set up The Angel City Factory, the US production arm of Banijay Entertainment. Kaz, meanwhile, joins from 3 Ball Productions.

“Tim’s talents, coupled with the detailed production expertise of Justin and the superior casting skills of Allison will be essential to Electus as we continue to grow as a next generation studio,” said Electus CEO Chris Grant.