Chris Selak will depart as Lionsgate’s executive VP of worldwide television and will transition to a production deal with the studio.
Since joining the company in 2011, Selak has led the development of new content while overseeing all current TV series and long-form programming. She signed a new contract last year, which added worldwide television to her purview.
Selak will develop her own projects while continuing to work on certain projects from the Lionsgate Television Group slate. Kevin Beggs, chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group, is expected to have hands-on involvement in the company’s scripted efforts while they search for her replacement.
Premium scripted series that Selak had 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.”
Selak also spearheaded the Lionsgate Television Group’s close creative collaboration with the Lionsgate UK television business, led by Lionsgate UK CEO Zygi Kamasa and UK Television creative director Steve November. She led the team that was responsible for supplying new premium scripted projects to Starz, acquired in December 2016.
Before Lionsgate, Selak was with John Wells Productions, where she worked on shows “Shameless,” “The West Wing,” “ER,” and “Southland.”