MarVista expands its executive team

Bringing extensive experience from her tenures at Esquire Network, Comedy Central and USA Network, Stern joins a new executive slate that includes recent hire and former Lionsgate exec Kenny Christmas as SVP of business and legal affairs, and the recently-promoted Hannah Pillemer, who will now serve as SVP of development and production.

In her new role, Stern will oversee marketing and communications for the MarVista Entertainment brand and the expansive title selection, domestic and international, and lead campaign initiatives for new genres as the studio continues to expand their distribution and content development plans to position themselves as a leader in the ever-changing entertainment landscape.

‘As MarVista continues to evolve in this ever-shifting marketplace of original content with exciting new projects and partnerships on the horizon, it was important for us to find someone with a rich and varied background in entertainment marketing,’ said CEO Fernando Szew. ‘Deena’s expertise across so many platforms, formats  and demographics has made her a natural fit for the next, exciting phase of MarVista Entertainment and we are thrilled to welcome her and Kenny to the family. Their additions and our promotion of Hannah only further showcase our emphasis on developing and hiring the most talented individuals in the entertainment industry.’

Stern previously held the position of SVP of marketing and digital for Esquire Network, where she launched 26 original series, and oversaw partnership marketing at E! and Esquire, delivering multi-platform sales marketing opportunities.

As SVP, bsiness and legal affairs, Kenny Christmas will oversee the negotiating and shaping of business transactions in the areas of development, production, finance and distribution of television and film, while Pillemer will oversee the feature department, managing a slate of 30 plus films across a wide range of genres and budgets.

These hiring comes on the heels of development news for the company, including an announced partnership deal with Elijah Wood’s SpectreVision to complete four films within the next two years and John Singleton’s Rebel, a two-hour police drama pilot produced for BET.