Shine America staffs up, poaches Saban, NBCU execs

Shine’s Shine America division has hired new marketing and research bosses.

Rob Hughes has joined from Saban Brands and will be VP, marketing at Shine. Prior to Saban he was marketing manager for Disney Channel in the US.

Kevin Ivey (pictured) becomes executive director, research, joining from NBCUniversal where he was VP, program research for cable nets Syfy and Chiller. Prior to that he had a research role at OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Both execs will be based in LA and report to Vivi Zigler, president, Shine 360˚ & Digital, Shine America.

Speaking about the hires, he said: “As we continue to expand our reach, the addition of both marketing and research departments to complement our scripted, unscripted and digital teams was a natural next step for us here at Shine America.”

Shine America has been run by former Disney Studios boss Rich Ross since January.

“The creative firepower of our sister Shine divisions is hitting on all cylinders and presents us in the States with a strategic competitive advantage,” he recently told TBI. “That opportunity is really playing out with The Bridge, which started its hit run in Sweden and debuts this July on FX.”