IM Global adds trio

CatlinPowell Rayford IM Global has added to its staff with a trio of executive hires -- Ben Shields Catlin, Elizabeth Powell and Juanita Rayford -- as the company preps for the American Film Market.The hirings were announced Thursday by founder and CEO Stuart Ford.IM Global noted the acquisitions, business and legal affairs, and finance departments are expanding to meet the growing demands from its film divisions -- Opus, Acclaim, Octane and Anthem -- and its Automatik production joint venture with Alliance.Catlin is joining as senior VP of acquisitions. He was most recently an acquisitions consultant at Relativity Media and was previously manager of production and acquisitions at Overture. Shields will work alongside the existing acquisitions team of Amal ElWardi, Babacar Diene, and Ben Rekhi.Powell has joined as VP of business and legal affairs, reporting to Exec VP of Finance and Operations Michael Roban as part of the company's five person legal team. Powell comes to IM Global from Essential, and currently serves on the Legal Committee for the Independent Film and Television Alliance.Rayford joins as collections manager, reporting to Financial Controller Miguel Palos to meet the growing demands of the sales and distribution business.Tatyana Joffe has been promoted to Exec VP of international sales and will continue reporting to International Sales President Jonathan Deckter. She's one of 28 staffers in the Los Angeles office."Business is strong, the company keeps growing, and I'm delighted to add three more talented people to the executive team," Ford said. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com