Jenna Bush Hager Taps Ben Spector As President Of Film & Television For Her Universal Studio Group-Based Company

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna, has hired seasoned development executive Ben Spector as President of Film and Television as part of her first-look deal with Universal Studio Group, which was announced in February.Spector is coming off a lengthy tenure as President of TV & Film at Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment.Under Hager’s pact, she and Spector will develop and produce projects with Universal Content Productions, Universal Television, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios for multiple platforms through her production banner.

They duo already is acquiring IP and optioning projects.Hager is the founder of Today’s book club #ReadWithJenna, and had called her USG production deal a “natural extension of Read with Jenna’s mission to highlight debut and diverse authors”.

Since its launch in March 2019, 30 of Hager’s book club selections have become New York Times bestsellers.“I’m looking forward to building this new company with Ben at the helm,” Hager said. “He brings decades of experience, empathy and a shared loved of literature to the team.

Getting to know Ben over the last few months, I’ve been in awe of his experience, prowess and desire to create meaningful work.”Spector was previously partnered with Longoria at UnbeliEVAble Entertainment where he recently produced La Guerra Civil, Longoria’s documentary feature film debut which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.