Upgrade Productions expands team, adding Akshay Mehta and Vanessa Saal to EVP roles

Fast-growing Los Angeles-based production company Upgrade Productions has bolstered its growing team with two new high-profile hires.

The company appointed Akshay Mehta as Executive Vice President, Content Strategy and Business Development and Vanessa Saal as Executive Vice President, Production and Distribution.

Veteran production and distribution executives Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier founded Upgrade Productions in late 2021 to develop and produce high quality local language productions for global audiences.

Mehta and Saal will both report directly to Brodlie and Kier.

Mehta will be responsible for executing Upgrade’s overall content strategy and looking for new collaboration opportunities.

He takes the lead in managing these relationships, structuring the funding for the season and was instrumental in negotiating upgrades to Constantin Film’s equity stake.

He works closely with Brodlie and Kier to lead the company to growth and will lead day-to-day operations as a senior member of the executive team alongside the Co-Presidents.

London-based industry veteran Saal will lead Upgrade’s global distribution strategy and build its European operations and business.

In her new role, she will also work with Brodlie and Kier to source material, identify strong development partners, and engage producers and showrunners on projects in development.

The announcement follows the recent appointment of former Mediawan and Leonine Studios associate professional manager Caroline Kusser as head of series.

The appointments come at a dynamic time for Upgrade, as the company continues to expand its roster and team.

Recently announced projects on the development list include My teacher Mr. Kim RemakeThe Spanish-language comedy is based on the 2003 South Korean film directed by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Celso Garcia and co-produced with Mineko Mori in collaboration with CJ ENM.

Other new additions are sunny side upan original Hindi comedy series produced by Mumbai-based production company Writeous Studio.

The company is also developing the title work 1982 World Championship without a titleAn original Italian language series set at a pivotal time for Italy in sports and politics, produced by the Italian production and distribution company Cloud 9 Film and written by Franco Bernini, Carmen Danza and Manuela Pinetti.

“Akshay brings a wealth of experience to the role that positions him perfectly to lead content and business development at Upgrade, especially at this important stage of development for the company,” said co-presidents Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier.

“We are delighted to have Vanessa join Upgrade at this incredibly exciting time as the company expands. With her deep business and creative connections around the world and excellent taste, we are delighted that Vanessa will strengthen our European presence,” they continued.

Mehta was most recently head of strategy and business development at Luma Pictures and chief investment officer at BRON Ventures.

Prior to that, he worked as an agent at CAA’s Media Finance Group, helping clients with business development and growth, both inside and outside of traditional media companies. Mehta previously served as Vice President, International at Good Universe and Vice President, International Sales and Distribution for Exclusive Media in London and Los Angeles. He began his career in corporate law and obtained a law degree from the College of Law, London.

Saal most recently served as Managing Director, Sales and Distribution at Protagonist Pictures, the London-based international distribution, finance and production company.

She originally joined Protagonist in 2014 as Head of Global Sales. Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President, International Sales at Studiocanal in Paris and a founding member of Kinology, based in Paris.

Saal began her career at Focus Features International in New York and is a graduate of Brown University. During her career she contributed to critical and commercial hits such as Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold WarTaika Waititis Hunting for the WildersSean Baker The Florida ProjectYorgos Lanthimos the lobsterThomas Alfredson Hobby, Tailor, Soldier Spythe coen brothers In Llevyn Davisthe worldwide blockbuster by Jaume Collet-Serra Without stoppingand David Heyman’s production, Paddington.