Bateman’s Aggregate gets TV boss

The US production firm headed up by Hollywood actor Jason Bateman has hired a former BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) exec to lead its TV division and had its first-look deal with Universal Studios renewed.

Shaleen Desai is now an exec VP at the TV arm of Bateman’s Aggregate Films, which was founded by the Arrested Development actor in 2012 and has produced feature films such as Identity Thief and Bad Words.

Desai joins Aggregate from FishBowl Worldwide Media, where he was senior VP of the LA-based indie’s scripted department. Prior to joining FishBowl in 2011, Desai was VP of unscripted programming at BBCWW Productions in the US.

Aggregate struck a first-look agreement with Universal Pictures and Universal TV two years ago and has had that deal renewed for a further 24 months.