Thunderbird Films has opened a Los Angeles office after financier Frank Guistra joined the Vancouver-based indie producer, and then pacted with Lionsgate on a Sea to Sky Entertainment TV production partnership.

Thunderbird co-founders Tim Gamble and Michael Shepard hired Joe Broido as executive VP of the Hollywood production arm, while Jeffrey Engelen comes over from Myriad Pictures to join the Vancouver-based indie producer as senior VP of distribution, also based in Los Angeles.

Broido, who consulted Thunderbird for the past two years, is also a former live action programming exec at Porchlight Entertainment.

In his new role at Thunderbird, Broido will work with Lionsgate to share production and distribution costs on U.S. broadcast and cable shows that get a greenlight in Los Angeles.

Engelen arrives at Thunderbird from Myriad Pictures, where he was senior VP and head of the TV division.

Before joining Kirk D’Amico’s Santa Monica-based Myriad Pictures in 2010, Engelen also worked at Porchlight Entertainment as senior VP of worldwide sales.

Elsewhere on the TV front, Thunderbird has named former Entertainment One exec Danielle Kreinik as its manager of development in Los Angeles.