ITV Studios hires USA & ABC execs for scripted

ITV Studios America (ITVSA) has hired USA Networks’ Jed Valdecantos and ABC Studios’ Jim Dietle.

Valdecantos has been named VP of scripted TV development, while Dietle become VP of business and legal affairs.

ITVSA, the LA-based scripted arm of UK broadcaster ITV’s production wing, ITV Studios, has been building out its team.

It recently hired Endemol Shine Studios (ESS) exec Russ Buchholz for its Circle of Confusion joint venture, while another ESS producer, Dwayne Shuttock, joined in February as executive VP of production.

Valdecantos joins from NBCUniversal-owned USA, where he was director of original scripted programming, overseeing dramas such as Graceland, Colony and Burn Notice. Prior to that, he worked in the TV literary department of Hollywood agency CAA.

At ITVSA, he will oversee development, while Dietle will oversee studio business affairs from development through to production, and compliance.

He was most recently VP of business affairs at Burbank-based ABC Studios, where he oversaw business affairs for current programming, affiliate network licence deals and breakage issues, and production, development and rights acquisitions deals.

“As our development and production operations are rapidly expanding, we are thrilled to welcome Jed and Jim at ITV Studios America,” said Philippe Maigret, president of ITVSA (pictured). “Their recognised experience, incredible industry relationships and innovative spirit will make our creative and business teams even stronger.”