David Weiland, EVP Western Europe, BBC Worldwide has announced the team who will be responsible for running the company’s businesses in the Benelux, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy and the Nordics.
The appointments follow the reorganisation of BBC Worldwide earlier this year, which saw the business reconfigured from divisional to geographic lines of management further increasing its focus on international markets and enabling it to capture future growth opportunities around the world.
Commenting on the appointments, David said: “Western Europe is a key market for BBC Worldwide; with a number of established businesses and the exceptional sales growth in the region, it’s vital to create roles that have responsibility across all commercial areas. The combination of this new structure and a senior management team, who are experts in their field and well-connected in their territories, will allow our clients, for the first time, to have one point of contact for the BBC brand in their market. With Mipcom imminent, it will be an ideal opportunity for our partners to meet the new team.”
Each Head becomes responsible for strategy and business development and delivering revenue and profit growth across all businesses in their region, including TV and Digital sales, Channels, Production and Format sales, Licensing and Publishing as well as Live Events.
Reporting into David are: Gabriele Galassi – Head of Benelux. Previously Gabriele headed up programme sales for Iberia. In his new role he oversees not only all BBCW businesses in Benelux but also a portfolio of BBC public service channels in the territory.
Isabelle Helle – Head of German Speaking Territories. Isabelle has overseen BBC Worldwide’s programme sales business for German speaking territories since 2004. Based in Cologne, Isabelle and her team are also responsible for co-producing a portfolio of BBC drama, factual and natural history programmes with a range of German broadcasters and production companies. Isabelle is also responsible for Tower Productions, the joint venture between BBC Worldwide and ALL3Media Germany.
Francesca Doria – Director, Italy and Iberia. Prior to taking up this post, Francesca was Territory Manager for Northern Mediterranean programme sales. Besides Sales, responsibilities in her new role will include overseeing Italy’s BBC Knowledge channel, Format Licensing and Live Events.
Richard Hornsby-Smith – Director, Nordics. Richard was previously Head of Nordics and Benelux for BBC Worldwide’s TV sales business and before that he ran the company’s Sports Division. In the Nordics, he and his team will continue to cement their strong relationships with local broadcasters as well as work on the wide range of BBC branded channels that broadcast across the region.
In France two executives have been appointed, Jean-Louis Blot will oversee BBC Worldwide’s production base while Sandra Petkovic will manage all other businesses. Tim Muff, general manager for the French programme sales business, has decided to leave the company at the end of this month after 28 years with BBC Worldwide.
Jean-Louis Blot – Head of Production, France
Since setting up the production office in 2008, Jean Louis has produced a number of successful shows and is currently working on the 4th series of Dancing with the Stars (TF1) and the 2nd series of Great Bake Off (M6). He will also oversee all the commercial brand activities for the various programmes made by BBC Worldwide France Productions.
Sandra Petkovic – Head of French Speaking Territories, excluding production. Sandra has been Territory Manager, France since 2009 overseeing a sales team based in Paris and London. Her new position will see her managing all of the company’s business interests in French Speaking Territories excluding BBC Worldwide Productions France.
Jon Farrar, previously VP Programming, BBC Worldwide Channels EMEA, has been named the VP Branded Services, BBC Worldwide Western Europe. Also reporting into David Weiland, Jon is responsible for all BBC-branded services across Western European territories, overseeing content and brand strategies for channels, blocks and non-linear services as well as developing the global editorial strategy for BBC Worldwide’s channels business.
