IM hires Electus exec for TV sales drive

US film finance outfit IM Global is launching a distribution arm for its IM Global Television business and has hired a senior executive from Electus to run it.

Eli Shibley

Eli Shibley has been named president of international distribution and coproductions at IM Global Television, the company’s LA-based TV studio led by president Mark Stern.

The new division will handle international rights to IM Global Television’s scripted slate and will acquire third-party scripted and unscripted projects from the US, UK and elsewhere. Shibley will also be charged with arranging partnerships between content creators and key US and global buyers.

The company is currently working on TV adaptations of Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle, Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover science fiction book series and crime thriller Den of Thieves, which is being produced by Kevin Spacey.

At Electus, Shibley was senior VP of international media and formats, sourcing shows including Jane The Virgin for The CW.

Previously he set up Shine International’s London sales team and helped launch Reveille International in LA.

IM Global founder and CEO Stuart Ford said: “Eli is an outstanding distribution executive and his arrival is a major coup for our TV distribution business. I envision scripted and unscripted TV sales becoming a substantial component of our already extensive global licensing platform in the next few years.”

IM Global already operates an international film sales and distribution business with a library of more than 250 titles and has financed more than 20 features.

On the film side, IM hired Michael Rothstein from the Weinstein Company as president of international sales and distribution in April, and added Michael Dwyer from Screen Media as senior VO of international sales and distribution last month.