Toronto-headquartered Blink49 Studios has appointed Mal Stares to the new role of SVP, global scripted, effective immediately.

The veteran scripted executive will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to Carolyn Newman, EVP, global scripted, according to a news release issued Friday (May 19).

Toronto-born Stares will work across the development and production of Blink49’s current and upcoming slate of scripted comedy and drama content, collaborating closely with creators, authors, writers, producers and broadcasters. She will also initiate a new slate of development projects for the company.

Stares is a Canada-U.K. dual citizen and began her career working in physical production in Vancouver.

She joins Blink49 from its L.A.-based anchor investor and lead strategic partner, Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), where she most recently served as VP of international TV production, overseeing the company’s expansion into Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

At Fifth Season, she successfully sold Amazon Studios’ first Australian original series, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, and was instrumental in securing deficit financing for productions such as BBC’s Queen of Oz, SBS’s Swift Street and CBC’s Run the Burbs (Pier 21 Films), said the release.

In her previous role as director, scripted at BBC Studios, Stares worked on shows with AMC, Netflix, FX, HBO, Showtime, Warner Bros. TV, Sony TV, and Snapchat.

Stares also helped launch the scripted division at L.A.-based Scott Rudin Productions, overseeing projects as a creative executive including What We Do In The Shadows for FX and Barkskins for NatGeo TV.

Previously, she worked with former HBO exec Anne Thomopoulos at Trio Lunch on Outlander (Starz), Versailles (Canal+) and Black Box (ABC).

“Mal is a true champion of writers’ voices and talent,” said Newman in a statement. “She brings to Blink49 the perfect combination of global experience, relationships and great taste, which we have gotten to know firsthand through her work with us at Fifth Season.”

Stares said in her time working with the Blink49 team at Fifth Season, she recognized that they “share a passion for discovering and supporting creative voices.”

Her hiring comes a week after Blink49 Studios announced the appointment of Tashi Bieler as its new SVP and head of production.