DreamWorks hires for live-action

DreamWorks Animation has hired the former head of Gaumont International Television to lead a push into live-action content.

Katie O’Connell

Katie O’Connell Marsh is joining the US producer as head of global live-action television. Starting in January, she will be based at the DreamWorks headquarters in LA.

O’Connell Marsh has been CEO of Gaumont International Television since 2010, establishing the French movie studio’s television arm through hits including Hannibal for NBC and Narcos for Netflix. She left Gaumont in September to be replaced by Sonar Entertainment’s Gene Stein.

Prior to that she was senior VP of development and later executive VP of drama programming at US broadcast network NBC working on shows including 30 Rock. She also had a stint at Inmagine Television, developing series including Arrested Development.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, said: “Television has quickly grown into one of our most successful businesses and, as the demand for kids and co-viewing content continues to rise, extending the DreamWorks Animation brand to live-action TV in a strategic and financially disciplined way will spur even further growth.”