Sky is bringing together all of its non sports content teams in the UK & Ireland under a single leadership structure to be led by Cécile Frot-Coutaz.
Under the new structure, Sky’s UK&I Content business reporting will report to Frot-Coutaz as well as Sky News Group across Europe. Frot-Coutaz will take on the new title, CEO Sky Studios and Chief Content Officer.
MD of Content for Sky UK & Ireland, Zai Bennett, remains responsible for Sky’s output and performance in the UK&I, leading Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids, along with commissioning for factual, entertainment, arts, kids and film as well as acquisitions across Sky Group. Bennett will now report directly to Frot-Coutaz.
Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO Sky Studios and Chief Content Officer said: “By bringing Sky’s content teams together into a single structure, we can maximise the benefits of our content business, whilst continuing to invest in original programming across all genres. Across Sky Studios and UK&I Content, our teams deliver unmissable Sky Originals to viewers in the UK&I, across Sky Group and around the world. I am excited to work even more closely with Zai and the wider teams as we further our investment in British and Irish content.”
The former Head of YouTube in EMEA and CEO of global production company Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz joined Sky in September 2021.
Zai Bennett, MD of Content, Sky UK&I, said of the move: “Our exceptional commissioners, production and strategy teams across UK&I Content and Sky Studios already work incredibly closely together, so this is the next logical step. I am looking forward to collaborating further with Cécile and excited that 2024 is set to be a stellar year on screen for Sky customers across our Entertainment, Cinema and Kids services.”
Last month it was announced that Stephen van Rooyen is stepping down as CEO Sky UK and Ireland and Group CCO and will leave the business at the end of February.
Upcoming Sky Original series include Mary & George, starring Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel and Jonah Hauer-King, and The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.