Toronto’s Boat Rocker Studios has hired Disney alum Michael McGahey to support its live-action content for kids and families as a VP, as well as shifting the responsibilities of several other kids content execs.

McGahey will manage development and production for a slate that already includes Get Even (Netflix/BBC) and tween/teen hit The Next Step (BBC/CBC), which spans eight seasons and has broadcast deals in place with Universal Kids (US), RTE (Ireland) and Disney Channel (Australia).

McGahey most recently worked as an executive producer at LA-based real-time animation studio Mindshow (A StoryBots Space Adventure). Before that, he was VP of development and co-productions at MarVista, where he had EP credits on live-action projects such as TV movie Tiny Christmas (Nickelodeon) and miniseries Best. Worst. Weekend. Ever. (Netflix ). Prior to joining MarVista, McGahey spent six years at Disney, ending his tenure there as VP of development for Disney TV Animation.

McGahey is working out of Boat Rocker’s LA office and reports to EVP and head of scripted creative Nick Nantell, who was promoted from EVP of creative affairs to manage an expanded remit that now includes heading up scripted kids and family content.

Boat Rocker Studios has also shifted around several other execs’ duties in a bid to streamline operations and be a more effective partner for creators and buyers. Jon Rutherford, formerly president of kids and family & rights, is now president of global rights, franchise and content strategy. He’ll continue managing kids and family animated projects and sales, and continue to oversee the rest of the company’s distribution business, while taking on an expanded role of developing franchise opportunities for its brands going forward.

EVP and head of production Jill Danton’s portfolio has been expanded to include unscripted and kids and family content. And Hameed Ahmad is taking on kids content financing in his role as Boat Rocker Media’s SVP of finance and operations.