North Road Company has hired Netflix and HBO veteran Rochelle Gerson as head of business affairs.
She will oversee the strategy and execution of all content deals across North Road’s portfolio of production companies. She will also advise North Road’s leadership team, including Amy Israel, Jenno Topping, Jan Frouman, Chris Coelen, Connor Schell and Darian Singer, and report to CEO David Nevins.
Gerson spent nearly five years at Netflix, where as VP of Original Series, she led a team of more than 40 employees and oversaw business and legal services for more than $1 billion in programming. Previously, Gerson spent more than a decade at HBO, where he rose to SVP of Business Affairs and oversaw a broad range of licensing, acquisitions, co-production and talent deals. His previous positions include EVP of Business Affairs for the Carsey Werner Company and roles at Walt Disney Co. and NBC.
Launched in July 2022 by Peter Chernin to capitalize on increasing global demand for content, North Road has expanded across genres and regions. The company owns scripted film and television studio Chernin Entertainment, the company behind hits like Ford V Ferrari, Hidden figures, New girl And Luther; and the unscripted production company Kinetic Content, known for Love is blind, The ultimatum And Married at first sight. North Road’s other divisions include the non-fiction studio Words + Pictures, led by the creators and producers of 30 for 30 and an Oscar® winner OJ: Made in America; and a London-based international entity.
Over the past year, the company has completed a series of strategic acquisitions of all or part of companies, including Karga Seven Pictures, Little Room Films; Two one five entertainment; and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. The list of more than 85 active North Road productions includes Super/Man: The Christopher Reeves Story; Rez Ball; And Back in action.
“Rochelle is an important addition to an already leading leadership group,” Nevins said in a news release. “With her extensive experience brokering innovative deals for major content companies, we know she will be an incredible asset to North Road as we continue to expand our leadership position as an independent producer in key markets worldwide.”
Gerson said North Road has “the resources and ambition to continue to reach new heights”, adding: “I look forward to this exciting new step in my career and to helping North Road capitalize on the great opportunity that is offered to her.”