Fremantle Bolsters Scripted Department With Two New Hires

Fremantle today announced two new hires to its scripted business. Nyanza Shaw is executive vice president of scripted business and legal affairs, while Jerry Jacobs has joined the company as executive vice president of scripted productions.

Shaw will oversee all deal-making relating to the development, production and financing of Fremantle’s scripted television and new media content produced for the U.S.  Shaw’s purview will span business strategy, IP acquisition, production financing, as well as production business and legal affairs.

She joins Fremantle with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, business, media, technology and intellectual property matters. As the former owner/managing attorney at Shaw Esquire, she developed significant relationships with multiple distributors, networks, streamers and production companies, crafting numerous deals with these partners.

In his new role, Jacobs will be responsible for all aspects of production for Fremantle’s slate of scripted entertainment. This will include the hiring of all key production staff, sourcing of production locations, as well as setting and maintaining overall project budgets.

Jacobs joins Fremantle from Lionsgate Entertainment where he was senior vice president of television production and worked on series including Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Swimming with Sharks and Step-Up.

“As Fremantle’s scripted programming continues to flourish, we are thrilled to welcome both Nyanza and Jerry to our team,” said Dante Di Loreto, president of scripted entertainment, Fremantle, North America.  “Their strong business relationships and many years of experience in the industry will be instrumental in supporting our continued growth, producing and distributing world class entertainment with some of the most sought-after talent from around the globe.”