Beatrice Springborn is solidifying her executive regime at Universal Content Productions.
The Hulu exec, who moved over to NBCUniversal’s cable- and streaming-focused studio in November, has tapped recruited Jennifer Gwartz to serve as exec vp. Additionally, Springborn has promoted Scott Nemes to another newly created role as exec vp creative acquisitions for both UCP and international development.
Gwartz joins UCP after serving as exec vp drama and comedy development at Disney’s 20th Television and worked as an exec producer on ABC drama pilot Triangle. Before that, she worked with writer/showrunner Jon Harmon Feldman at ABC Studios-based Random Hill Productions. With experience selling content to broadcast, cable and streaming, Gwartz will guide operational workflows across all UCP’s studio functions including production, current and development to provide a consistent experience across the studio. The UCP gig marks Gwartz’s next chapter after she was among the execs whose roles were eliminated as part of Disney’s studio reorganization and consolidation last year.
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Springborn, who replaced Dawn Olmstead atop UCP last year, is rounding out her exec regime with Gwartz and Nemes joining Garrett Kemble, the studio’s head of development, all reporting to the former head of originals at Hulu. Springborn also announced that U.K.-based David O’Donoghue will continue to serve as acting head of the studio for its international team. Springborn is the interim president of NBCU International Studios as a search remains under way for an exec to replace the ousted Jeff Wachtel.
“Bringing Jen’s diverse expertise to UCP and amplifying the roles for Scott, Garrett and David will allow us to further grow and invest in our content across Universal Studio Group,” said Springborn. “These executives are entrepreneurial, passionate and collaborative and I’m thrilled to partner with them as we get to create with the best of the best.”
Added Universal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe: “One of the goals of bringing all of our television content businesses under the Universal Studio Group umbrella was to create more pathways to success for our talent roster and open access to IP across all of our studios. I am confident that this new structure will help us accomplish that.”
Nemes will be tasked with launching a division at USG that identifies and secures rights to IP, including books, podcasts, articles and other content that will be developed by the studio’s multiple imprints, including audio, graphics, unscripted and scripted. Nemes, who joined UCP in 2019 as exec vp development and current programming, packaged the studio’s Joe Exotic series starring Kate McKinnon and John Cameron Mitchell.
Nemes is the latest exec to be promoted to a new position that prioritizes IP as rights become increasingly competitive amid the streaming wars. Netflix on Monday also hired Jordan Moblo to serve in a similar role after he was promoted last year to do the same at Disney.
Here’s Springborn’s full list of reports: Gwartz, Kemble, Steven O’Neill (casting), Mark Binke (production), JoAnn Alfano (current, also reports to UTV’s Erin Underhill and Igbokwe for formats). At Universal Studio Group: Nemes (reports to all studio chiefs for his IP, including UTV’s Underhill, alternative boss Toby Gorman and Springborn for UCP and international). Reporting to Springborn during her role as interim international president: Tom Daley, SVP Development (UK); Kelsey Balance, SVP scripted programming (she reports to Springborn for international and reports into Nemes for US facing development); David O’Donoghue, Acting Head of International Studios.
