Blue Ant Studios has created two leadership roles within its production and development divisions as it looks to grow a slate of original stories with “premium talent and returnable series.”

In the new role of head of production, Canada, Blue Ant Studios is Aileen Gardner (pictured left), who will lead operations for the studio’s slate of productions in Canada. She will report to Laura Michalchyshyn, CCO and co-president of global production at Blue Ant Media, and Sam Sniderman, co-president of global production at Blue Ant Media.

Filling out the new role of VP, development, Blue Ant Studios is Zachary Frank (pictured right), who will work with the studio’s team in Los Angeles to further expand its development slate of limited and returnable series with an emphasis on the Canadian, U.K. and U.S. markets. He’ll report to Jennifer Harkness, SVP, unscripted, Blue Ant Studios, and work closely with Gardner in Toronto.

Gardner has over 20 years of experience in broadcast media production in the U.K., U.S., and Canada. She’s worked in genres ranging from documentary to lifestyle series, with companies such as Mentorn Media, Endemol, Cineflix and Scott Brothers Entertainment. In Canada, she has overseen shows including Nazi Hunters (Discovery), American Pickers (A&E) and the reboot of Brother vs. Brother (HGTV).

Frank’s experience in development and production spans over a decade with partners in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. He was previously senior director at Toronto-based Cream Productions, where he developed projects for networks including CNN (History of the Sitcom), Investigations Discovery (If I Should Die), Bell Media (Fear Thy Roommate), and Travel Channel (A Ghost Ruined My Life).