MarVista hires for scripted push

US producer-distributor MarVista Entertainment has bolstered its senior management team with a string of appointments, including hires from HBO, Disney Television Animation and Summit Entertainment.

LA-based MarVista is building up its production and development unit, adding a sales exec and promoting Sharon Bordas from senior VP of production and development to exec VP.

In her new role, Bordas will create female-driven material for TV and film after four years building a production and development team which includes Michael Moran, VP of production and development, and creative executive Hannah Pillemer.

The appointments also see Michael McGahey move into the newly created position of VP of development and production for scripted sales.

McGahey joins from Disney’s TV animation unit, where he was VP of development, and is charged with spearheading MarVista’s further expansion into live action scripted series.

Reporting to exec VP of production and development, Robyn Snyder, he takes responsibility for developing and producing original scripted series, limited series and miniseries for both domestic and international coproductions.

Also joining Bordas’ team is former HBO exec Margaret Huddleston, who will oversee MarVista’s independent film slate for 2014.

Meanwhile, the company has appointed Christopher Sanda as its director of international sales.

Sanda, who joins from Summit, will be responsible for the Scandinavian, Benelux, Japanese, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, CIS and ancillary markets. He reports to exec VP of sales Vanessa Shapiro.