Lionsgate Promotes Chris Selak to EVP of Worldwide Television

Executive previously worked at John Wells Productions and Mandalay Television

Chris Selak lionsgate

Lionsgate has signed a new long-term agreement with executive vice president Chris Selak, adding worldwide television to her purview, the company announced Thursday.

Selak will also spearhead the Lionsgate Television Group’s close creative collaboration with the newly-launched Lionsgate UK television business led by Lionsgate UK CEO Zygi Kamasa and UK Television creative director Steve November as part of the Company’s strategy of increasing its US/UK co-productions.

In addition, Selak’s team will be responsible for supplying new premium scripted projects to Starz, acquired in December 2016, with three major properties already in the development pipeline.

“Chris has been an integral part of our success over the past six years, and she will be one of the key executives moving our business forward in the years to come,” said Lionsgate Television group chairman Kevin Beggs. “Sandra Stern and I couldn’t ask for a better executive partner. Chris’s superb talent relationships, savvy creative instincts and outstanding leadership skills will be an important driver of the continued rapid growth and diversification of our global television operations.”

Scripted programming revenue has more than tripled during Selak’s six-year tenure at Lionsgate and the scope of Lionsgate dramas, comedies and limited series has expanded to encompass a wide array of new platforms. She has also overseen the ongoing growth of the Lionsgate Television Group with key hires in casting, current programming and development.

Premium scripted series that Selak has directly shepherded through development and production since joining the company in 2011 include “Orange is the New Black,” “Nashville,” “Casual,” “Graves” “Dear White People,” “Greenleaf, “The Royals” and “White Famous.” Selak also oversaw the successful final seasons of “Mad Men” and “Nurse Jackie.”

Before joining Lionsgate, Selak served as senior vice president at John Wells Productions (JWP), where she oversaw programming for “ER” and “The West Wing.” In addition, she helped develop JWP’s “Shameless,” a dark, comedic family drama starring Bill Macy and Emmy Rossum that currently airs on Showtime, as well as TNT’s “Southland,” a series about the lives of those serving in the Los Angeles Police Department.

Prior to JWP, Selak was vice president at Mandalay Television, a Peter Guber company, serving as a producer on the Showtime series “Rude Awakening,” starring Sherilyn Fenn and Lynn Redgrave. She also oversaw the development and programming of the ABC series “Cupid” starring Jeremy Piven, and The WB’s “Young Americans,” starring Kate Bosworth.

Comments