MarVista taps Disney, HBO execs to build out team

LA-based producer and distributor MarVista Entertainment has poached executives from Disney Television Animation, HBO and Summit Entertainment in a string of hires and promotions.

In total, MarVista is adding two executives to its production and development unit and a new sales exec and given a top level promotion to Sharon Bordas (left), who is upped from senior VP, production and development to executive VP.

Bordas will now focus on creating female-skewed television and film after four years helping build the production and development unit by adding the likes of VP Michael Moran and creative executive Hannah Pillemer.

That team has now expanded with the addition of Michael McGahey as VP, production and development for scripted series. He joins from Disney’s TV animation unit and will be responsible original scripted series, limited series and miniseries for both domestic and international coproductions.

McGahey (right) reports to EVP, production and development Robyn Snyder.

Margaret Huddleston has also joined Bordas’ team and will oversee MarVista’s independent film slate as creative executive. She was previously at premium cabler HBO.

MarVista has also added a new director of international sales as the result of what it describes as “an increase in the volume of original productions and acquisitions”. Christopher Sanda joins from Summit and will report to EVP, sales, Vanessa Shapiro.

Sanda will be responsible for the Scandinavian, Benelux, Japanese, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, CIS and ancillary markets.

“Our market-driven development strategy – producing and acquiring content based on feedback directly from our buyers – is the foundation of our business, continues to distinguish our company in the global marketplace and, in essence, is the story behind our success as producers, production partners and distributors,” said MarVista CEO Fernando Szew of the changes.