Silver Springs-headquartered prodco Sirens Media (Real Housewives of New Jersey, pictured) is expanding its development division by opening a New York office, and ramping up its DC-area development team with promotions and new hires.

Joining the Leftfield Entertainment-owned company’s New York post is VP of development Daniel Markell. Previously holding that position with Jane Street Entertainment, Markell oversaw its development slate and was behind such series as TLC’s Psychic Matchmaker and FYI’s Rowhouse Showdown. He also served as a creative consultant for Cineflix Productions.

Meanwhile, for the Silver Springs HQ, Sirens Media has hired Nichole Bardin as director of development, and has promoted Brent Hatherill to senior director of development, and Heather Hutt to manager of development.

Bardin comes to Sirens from Washington-based Structure Production, where she worked as a development and strategic business consultant.

The four report to Sirens Media’s senior VP of talent and program development Jen Mayer Kulp. The company says it is in the process of bulking up the New York team with two more hires to be announced in due course.

Rebecca Toth Diefenbach, co-president of Sirens Media alongside Valerie Haselton, said the move into New York “will allow us greater access to clients and more resources from which to provide top-level content. As someone with deep expertise as both a television executive and a hands-on producer, Daniel is the ideal person to join us in this endeavor.”