Global streamer Netflix has hired Tara Woodbury as its first Canadian-based content executive.

Woodbury will serve as manager, Canada series, reporting to Danielle Woodrow, director, Canada series, effective mid-November, with both operating out of Netflix’s new Toronto office. Woodrow first joined Netflix in 2018 as director of UCAN scripted series.

Woodbury will develop and commission English and French-language scripted series out of Canada, as well as maintain relationships with Canadian talent.

Previously, Woodbury served as VP of development at Sphere Media and was an executive producer on the prodco’s hit CTV series Transplant. She first joined Sphere Media in 2016 as head of development and before then was director of development at AMAZE (previously Amaze Film + Television). Independently, she produced Danis Goulet’s feature-length directorial debut Night Raiders.

“It’s no secret that the pool of creative talent in Canada runs deep,” said Peter Friedlander, VP, scripted series, UCAN, in a statement. “We’re confident that with Tara’s addition to the team we will increase our ability to work with new and established creators locally to bring even more Canadian stories to our members from around the world.”

“Bringing global visibility to Canadian storytellers and their work was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” added Woodbury. “I’m looking forward to joining Netflix and working with creators from across the country to discover new and compelling stories to share.”

Netflix announced its plans to open a Canadian office in February via a blog post from co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos. The post mentioned the streamer service’s intent to hire a “dedicated content executive to work directly with the Canadian creative community.”

The company later revealed in April that its Canadian HQ would be based in Toronto.