Culvenor Named Shine America Development SVP

Chris Culvenor has been named senior vice president, development at Shine America, it was announced today by Carl Fennessy, Shine America’s CEO.

In addition, Christie McConnell has joined Shine America as VP, development.

Culvenor, who joins Shine America from sister-company Shine Australia, will oversee day-to-day unscripted development for the Los Angeles-based production company.

Since 2010, Culvenor has overseen the development and sale of Shine Australia’s television programs across all genres, managed third-party creative relationships both domestically and internationally, acquired and sold third party television formats and created, implemented and managed the company’s development strategy.

Before joining Shine Australia, Culvenor was director of digital media and alternative programming for FremantleMedia Australia. In that role, he created and managed the digital media department and oversaw the company’s digital media strategy and business development. Prior to joining Fremantle Australia, he held director and producer positions for Insight Productions Canada, where he worked on Canadian Idol. Culvenor began his career in 2004 as an associate producer for Grundy Television Australia.

McConnell joins Shine America from Stephen David Entertainment, where she was VP, development since 2010. McConnell has developed concepts for a variety of major cable networks and brands.

Prior to joining Stephen David Entertainment, McConnell was a development executive at Notional, where she oversaw casting and developed formats for cable networks. McConnell began her career in development at City Lights Media, rising through the ranks to oversee the digital/branded entertainment development department. McConnell has moved to Los Angeles from New York City for her new position with Shine America.