BritBox International, the BBC and ITV joint venture, has announced a new structure, senior appointments and revealed its most robust commissioning and co-production slate to date.
This will help deliver its ambitious market expansion goals, manage a step-change in content investment and secure its position as the world leader in British streaming.
BritBox International (BBI) will move to a two-region structure – BBI North America (covering USA and Canada) and BBI International Markets (covering Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland and future new markets), creating new regional leadership roles.
BBI has also created a new global Acquisitions and Commercial position. All report to CEO Reemah Sakaan and will join BBI’s senior leadership team located across London, New York and Sydney offices.
Reemah Sakaan
Sakaan explained the rationale behind the changes: “We are establishing the best-fit strategy, investment and organisation to align with our vision to become world leaders in British streaming.
“As the business matures, maximising the potential of existing markets, particularly growth in US and Australia, as well as a building a scalable multi-market, operating and investment model, requires a new management focus. This will enable BritBox to leverage our strength in all territories and to become a global commissioner, buyer and brand.”
The new appointments include Kerry Ball stepping into the new role of chief acquisitions and commercial officer. Ball joins BritBox International in this newly created lead role, responsible for group content acquisition and commercial strategy across regions.
Ball is a seasoned digital and entertainment executive who has spent 20+ years working at the intersection of content and technology in leading positions at NBC Universal, Stingray, Shine, Discovery, Struum and Aurra Studios. Kerry will be based out of the London office hub.
Ball commented: “Britbox has made incredible progress in delivering such a high quality and authentic SVOD service over the last few years. I am incredibly excited to join the team and further our growth in both acquisition and distribution of world-class British Content.”
Moira Hogan
Moira Hogan takes on the new role of EVP international markets and general manager APAC with overarching accountability for all international market territories, excluding North America. She will also lead all markets within the APAC region.
Hogan previously served as country manager for the BritBox service in Australia, seeing it through from its infancy through its continuing success story.
Neale Dennett becomes SVP of international markets and general manager of EMEA. Dennett will partner with Hogan on growth in all international markets and lead all markets in EMEA region.
Dennett previously held the role of new markets launch director and has been instrumental in the launch of the service in Australia, South Africa and the Nordics most recently.
The appointment of EVP North America and general manager group marketing services is subject to a future announcement. The role will manage the USA, BritBox’s largest market, and oversee BritBox in Canada. The role will also manage the group wide teams for Creative, Media Buying, CRM and Customer Services.
These additions to the leadership team follow the hire of Diederick Santer as chief creative officer and Matt Gardner as chief financial and operations officer in the last 9 months.
Diederick Santer
BBI has also unveiled the most robust commissioning and co-production slate to date that will be coming to Australia, including a slate of highly anticipated compelling dramas and returning fan-favourite series.
Among them include the drama series A Spy Among Friends starring Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce, crime horror Passenger, sitcom The Cleaner by Greg Davies and crafting series Make It At Market.
CEO BritBox International CEO Sakaan said: “At BritBox International, we continue to strive to bring our audiences incredible content. There is no other streamer out there like us, we are unmistakably unique and distinct.”
“As we continue to grow globally, our new team remains creative, imaginative, and passionate about bringing excellent storytelling to screen, which is why we are so thrilled to be announcing our sensational commissioning and co-production line-up,” she added.
Santer, CCO BritBox International, said: “I am delighted to be sharing news of these fantastic shows. Working with the very best UK producers, we have curated a set of shows which we are confident will excite our existing subscribers, while attracting new audiences to our platforms.
“Whether a new and surprising take on the mystery genre, a distinctive crime series from one of the UK’s finest playwrights, or a personal story from a National Treasure, these shows epitomise our mission – to bring the best of British TV to a global audience.”
Hogan, EVP international markets and general manager APAC, added: “BritBox in Australia was established around a year and a half ago and now to be able to give Australians a taster of what is in-store at BritBox, with a new suite of incredible talent and titles, is exciting for us.
“British dramas and comedies still resonate with Aussies, and this announcement shines the spotlight on the compelling offering we have planned for streaming audiences,” she said.
BritBox International now has over 2.6 million subscribers around the world.