Sony Pictures Television International Productions has announced that Joanna Strevens and Kate O’Hara have joined the studios internal scripted division in newly-created SVP and Head of Development roles, respectively.
The internal scripted division was set up in 2021 with the appointment of Michaela Fereday as SVP, Scripted, International Production, and is based out of Manchester. The division develops and Exec Produces premium scripted drama titles credited directly to Sony Pictures Television International Production, rather than through the group’s network of owned-and-affiliated production companies.
Since 2023, SPTIP has Exec Produced Netflix’s global YA hit My Life With The Walter Boys, which launched its third season in August 2026 and is in production for season four. My Life With The Walter Boys S3 reached #1 on the Netflix Global Top 10 List.
Joanna Strevens joins as SVP, to work alongside Michaela in leading the division, capping a twenty-five-year career that has spanned development and production at the BBC, Talkback Thames, Hat Trick Productions and Kudos. She joins from ten years at Universal’s Carnival Films, where she most recently served as an Executive Producer on Belgravia; The Next Chapter for MGM+ and the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated All Her Fault starring Sarah Snook for Peacock.
Kate O’Hara joins the division as Head of Development, bringing experience across scripted film and television. She was previously Head of Development at Riot Time Pictures and Duck Soup Films, where she developed the BAFTA and International Emmy award-winning BBC drama Lost Boys & Fairies by Daf James. She has also worked with partners including BBC Writers, Channel 4, Screen Ireland, BFI Network and BAFTA Albert, and was iFeatures Executive at Creative England, helping shape films including Apostasy, Lady Macbeth, God’s Own Country, Blue Jean and Scrapper.
The pair are already in-post. Along with Michaela Fereday they work closely with SPT’s London-based International Productions senior leadership team, including Matthew Justice, EVP, Head of UK & Europe, and Wayne Garvie, President, International Production.
Michaela Fereday, SVP Scripted Production, says “The growth of our senior creative team marks an important next step for Sony Pictures Television International Productions’ scripted division. With Joanna and Kate bringing such depth of experience across development, production and talent relationships, we are strongly placed to build a distinctive slate of original and adapted scripted projects for international broadcast. We will continue to champion ambitious storytelling, work with outstanding writers and producers, and develop premium drama with clear global appeal.”
Jon Creamer
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