GRB reels back Zuccarelli

US production and sales house GRB Entertainment has recruited a former exec as its chief operating officer (COO) and launched a branded entertainment division.

Marielle Zuccarelli

Marielle Zuccarelli, who previously served as president of international for GRB between 2003 and 2012, will become the LA-based firm’s COO.

More recently, Zuccarelli was executive VP of international distribution at Sonar Entertainment, where she handled the distribution of the company’s drama coproductions and acquisitions.

Prior to that, she was MD of international distribution for New York-based A+E Networks.

GRB has also launched a branded entertainment division that will be run by its executive VP of creative affairs Michael Branton, who now has the new title executive VP of branded entertainment.

Branton will continue to serve as executive producer of series for GRB such as Intervention (A&E) and Untold Stories of the ER (TLC).

The new arm will be dedicated to sponsor-driven content and will target advertisers and marketers with the opportunity to produce original programming for broadcast, cable and digital/OTT platforms. The division will also have a focus on virtual reality content.