Asylum hires ITVSGE alum for UK

US producer Asylum Entertainment Group (AEG) has appointed a former ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE) non-scripted chief to launch its operations in the UK.

Ronan Hand

Ronan Hand, previously director of programme funding at UKTV and before that senior VP of global content, non-scripted and coproductions at ITVSGE, arrives at AEG as senior VP of global content.

Hand will be in charge of presenting IP from within the AEG family of companies to the international market and will report to CEO and founder Steve Michaels.

He will also lead AEG’s representation and partnership endeavours with independent producers around the world to bring their formats and properties to the US.

AEG, formerly known as Asylum Entertainment, is best known for its slate of reality shows plus scripted series The Kennedys for Reelz and Lifetime’s Cocaine Godmother.

Michaels sold the business to Legendary Entertainment in 2013 before buying it back last year and rebranding it under umbrella operation The Content Group (TCG).

TCG has been building up its ranks this year, hiring a string of execs including ITV-owned Outpost Entertainment’s Jodi Flynn as president of global content and Sony Pictures Television Networks’ Derek Stoops as chief of drama label Clovis Entertainment.

It also partnered with veteran exec producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi to launch Big City TV earlier this summer.

Based in London, Hand will work with both Flynn and Stoops to to secure international scripted and non-scripted IP for exploitation within the US market.

The exec has already set up partnerships with newly established indie Phoenix Television, led by Miles Jarvis and Jaimi West, adventure specialist Marshal Bishop and Brighton-based indie Screendog Productions, which is behind a new Brexit-themed border security show for Channel 4.

“Ronan is the perfect executive to expand Asylum’s interests throughout the world,” said Michaels. “He has a long and successful track record of acquiring content and creating meaningful international coproductions. Ronan is exceptional at maximising the value of IP and growing the global footprint of capable producers.”