BBC Studios has promoted Rebecca Glashow to the newly created role of CEO, global distribution. She will take up the position on 1 March and become a member of BBC Studio’s executive committee on the same date.
Glashow previously held the post of president, BBC Studios Americas from June 2020, overseeing the strategy and performance of the company’s commercial activities in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. In this role she was responsible for the launch of documentary streaming service BBC Select and BBC Podcasts and in September, oversight of global digital news was added to her responsibilities.
In her new role, she will take expanded responsibilities for BBC Studios’ global distribution portfolio (ex-UK & Ireland), encompassing content sales, direct to consumer services, international channels, co-productions as well as continued responsibility for the growth of BBC’s digital global news.
Glashow said: “‘I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role. I’m hugely passionate about the BBC and see great opportunities for further commercial growth and building new audiences for our world class content”.
Tom Fussell, CEO, BBC Studios added: “Rebecca’s promotion reflects her successful leadership style and thoughtful strategic approach which has grown and expanded the BBC Studios Americas’ portfolio of diverse businesses. I am delighted she will spearhead our next phase of growth across our Global Distribution division. She’s a fearless leader, full of ideas and energy for bringing outstanding British content to viewers around the world, to meet our global ambition”.
Glashow’s promotion comes as Paul Dempsey, president, global distribution at BBC Studios, has chosen to take up a new role as BBC Studios’ director of performance. Dempsey led BBC Studios’ international distribution operation for 10 years and enjoyed many successes in the role including growing content sales by 50%, more than doubling investment in content. launching re-branded channels and extending their reach across the world, pioneering new markets, especially China and India and leading the expansion of Britbox.
Of his new role, he said “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to move into a role specialising in individual and team performance. As our company embarks on the next stage of its growth story, I can’t think of a more exciting or relevant time to be moving into this new area”.
Fussell added: “I’m pleased that Paul will be passing the baton to Rebecca with the business in such good health. I’d like to pay tribute to his many commercial successes. I am thrilled that Paul will be our Director of Performance, showing our commitment to supporting world-class performance at a time of major growth opportunity for the company. We are fortunate to have someone of Paul’s talents leading this for the whole of BBC Studios”.
