Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been appointed CEO of Sky Studios, Sky’s production and development arm across Europe, the broadcaster has announced.
Currently Head of YouTube in EMEA and formerly CEO of global production company Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will sit on Sky’s Group Executive and will take up her post in September 2021.
She’ll take over from Gary Davey, who launched Sky Studios in 2019, and will remain with the business until his retirement later in the year.
Frot-Coutaz will take on the funding, development, production, and commissioning teams for scripted Sky Originals. She’ll also be responsible for Sky Studios global portfolio of production companies which includes Blast! Films, Jupiter Entertainment, True North and Love Productions, creator of the Great British Bake Off. As CEO, her remit also includes Sky Studios Elstree, the new, state-of-the-art film and TV studios that will house 13 sound stages and is set to open next year.
Dana Strong, Group Chief Executive, Sky said: “Cécile is a global leader in content and entertainment and has the bold vision and unique mix of experience needed to take Sky Studios to the next level of becoming a European production powerhouse. She is perfectly suited to lead Sky Studios as we ramp up our investment in original content and look ahead to cameras rolling at Sky Studios Elstree next year.”
Cécile Frot-Coutaz, said: “Sky is a company that I have always admired as a content maker, as a partner and as a consumer. Like the rest of the industry I have witnessed the launch of Sky Studios just over two years ago and have seen the ambition and speed by which the organisation has grown. I could not pass up the opportunity to lead the studio through its next phase of growth and look forward to getting started later this year.”
Since launching in 2019, Sky Studios has delivered world-leading content to Sky’s platforms and channels across Europe. Last year, nine of the top 10 programmes viewed on Sky’s channels in the UK were Sky Originals.
Three of the four series nominated for best Drama Series at this year’s BAFTA TV Awards are Sky Originals; Gangs of London, I Hate Suzie and Save Me Too. Content from Sky Studios is also entertaining viewers around the world.
