UPDATED — Canadian indie producer Shaftesbury confirmed this morning that it is opening a new U.S. division to be run by former Cookie Jar execs Tom Mazza and Maggie Murphy.

The office is to open Sept. 1, and is to be jointly led by Mazza and Murphey. It will be based in L.A.

“Establishing a local presence in the U.S. is the next important step in the growth of our company,” said Shaftesbury topper Christina Jennings in a statement. “Tom and Maggie are exceptional executives who have extensive roots in the U.S. creative community and strong relationships with American broadcasters that will allow us to expand our opportunities in the market.”

In other Shaftesbury news, former CHUM topper Jay Switzer is continuing his return to Canadian broadcasting by joining the company’s board of directors.

Switzer served as president and CEO of CHUM until its sale in 2007 to then-CTVglobemedia.

More recently, Switzer co-founded Hollywood Suite Inc., a private broadcaster of four HD specialty movie channels to launch in November.

Switzer also serves on the boards at William F. White International and OUTtv.