Andrew marcus - founder/ceo

Prior to Apiary, Marcus served as President of Critical Content (f.k.a. Relativity Television), where he oversaw all creative and business aspects of the company’s scripted and non-scripted efforts. During Marcus’ tenure, Critical produced more than 80 non-scripted series including Catfish (MTV), Home Free (Fox), The Case of: Jonbenet Ramsey (CBS), The Writers Room (Sundance), Guy’s Grocery Games (Food), The Lowe Files (A&E), and The Great Food Truck Race (Food) and sold more than 10 scripted projects to networks and studios, including Limitless (CBS), Start-up (Amazon/Crackle) and Young & Hungry (Freeform).

From 2005-2012, Marcus served as Chief Operating Officer and later President of Corporate Development, Strategy & International for Relativity Media, leading the company’s growth from a four-person start-up into a diversified media company (film, television, digital, sports representation, brand management). Marcus oversaw the packaging, financing, domestic and international distribution of more than 25 independent films including The Fighter, Limitless, Dear John, Haywire, Act of Valor, Immortals, 3:10 to Yuma, and the co-financing of more than 100 studio films with Sony and Universal which grossed more than $10 billion in revenue. 

Marcus’ industry experience began in New York as an assistant at Miramax Films in 1998 and managing production at Greenestreet Films. He received a B.A. from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Adam gelvan - HEAD of non-scripted entertainment

In his role as Head of Non-Scripted Entertainment, Gelvan oversees the company’s efforts across all forms of non-fiction content, including development, sales, production, content strategy, partnerships, and business/legal affairs.  

Prior to joining Apiary, Gelvan served as General Manager and Senior Business Development Executive for Whalerock Industries, a tech and media company in West Hollywood, CA. In his role as General Manager, Gelvan oversaw the development of new digital & media businesses for world class talent, brands, media companies and IP holders, including Viacom, Harry Potter, and the Kardashian/Jenner sisters.   

Gelvan began his career at the William Morris Agency (later WME), where he was a talent and television packaging agent for its industry-leading non-scripted television department. As an agent, Gelvan represented best-in-class production companies, executive producers, directors and on-camera talent (broadcasters and personalities). During his 12-year run at WME, Gelvan packaged and sold hundreds of television shows to nearly every major broadcast and cable network. Gelvan graduated with high honors from Columbia College Chicago.

Jonathan schwartz - SVP of scripted television and films

In his role as SVP, Scripted Development at Apiary, Schwartz oversees all aspects of film and television development and production including the identification and acquisition of intellectual property rights. 

Prior to Apiary, he was an Executive Producer of scripted television under a POD deal with Critical Content. Under that deal he sourced and acquired IP and developed projects including Malcolm X and Whistleblower: The Karen Silkwood Story which are both in active development at F/X Networks. 

Prior to Critical, he was responsible for the distribution and production joint-venture between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company which financed David O. Russel’s The Fighter and Rob Marshall’s Nine. From 2000-2004 he was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Madonna’s Maverick Films, responsible for the Twilight and Cody Banks franchises. While at Maverick, Schwartz oversaw 12 first-look producing deals while managing the 20th Century Fox output deal and an international sales joint-venture.

Schwartz began his career producing music videos and commercials in New York City where he learned to tell stories in a highly visual medium before turning those skills to his true passion of film and television.  

emily verellen strom - director of non-scripted development

In her role as Director of Non-Scripted Development, Verellen Strom is responsible for documentary series and documentary filmmaker relationships. Prior to Apiary, Emily was the Senior Director of Programs at The Fledgling Fund, where she was responsible for curating, advising and funding more than 100 non-fiction filmmakers and documentary films including Bully, Gasland, The Invisible War, Virunga, 3 ½ Minutes, Anita, Fed Up, Gideon’s Army, and Newtown.  Films that Emily oversaw won more than 20 Emmy and Academy Awards and were showcased at top festivals and networks including Sundance, Cannes, TIFF, IDFA, Netflix, HBO, PBS and Showtime.

Prior to her work at The Fledgling Fund, Emily founded a women's rights and reproductive health organization in Nairobi, Kenya and provided strategy for a youth development organization in South Africa.  She holds a BA in International Development and Communications from American University and an MA in Development and Population Studies from The London School of Economics.

john martin - creative executive

In his role as Creative Executive for Apiary Entertainment, Martin is responsible for the review and preparation of scripted and non-scripted materials as well as serving in a strategy and planning role across all of Apiary’s business activities.  

Prior to Apiary, he worked at Critical Content, developing scripted and non-scripted television as part of the Critical Labs Producer Incubator Program, where he helped sell, produce and develop content for MTV, Snapchat, WETV, Discovery Networks, Amazon, TruTV, and Viceland.  In addition, he produced the first commissioned scripted comedy series Unmasked and the unscripted series Zero Bucks Given for Lionsgate and Kevin Hart’s digital network Laugh Out Loud.  

Prior to Critical, John held development positions at TBS/TNT, IMG, and came up through the television literary department at WME where he assisted Rick Rosen, among others. Martin received a B.S. from the University at Buffalo and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.