MUMBAI: Lionsgate has roped in former Warner Bros. television director of current programming Chad Kennedy as SVP of current programming. His hiring represents Lionsgate’s increased presence in the scripted TV world. Kennedy will direct several reports focused entirely on current.

“The scripted team in our television group has consistently turned out high quality, award-winning series on every platform, including broadcast, cable and streaming,” said Lionsgate EVP-television Chris Selak. “Chad’s experience working with critically acclaimed, fan-favorite series makes him the perfect fit for our existing team, which has done an incredible job of successfully shepherding all of Lionsgate’s series from conception to air.”

Lionsgate’s scripted programming slate includes OWN’s recent breakout Greenleaf; Hulu’s dramedy Casual; Orange is the New Black, now entering its fifth season on Netflix; E!’s first scripted series The Royals, and Nashville, returning for its fifth season on its new home on CMT and Hulu.

The studio also has upcoming comedy Graves, its first original series for Epix; the sci-fi anthology series Dimension 404, which begins streaming on Hulu this fall; Dear White People for Netflix, Lionsgate’s first series for YouTube Red, Step Up, and the anthology series Manifesto, the story of the hunt for the Unabomber for Discovery.

A report reads that in the previous executive structure, SVP television Andy Richley and SVP development A.J. Morewitz, had been juggling both development and current. They now will focus squarely on development.