Avalon has promoted Paula Warwick to the role of Head of Distribution, following the retirement of long-time Director of Distribution, Isobel Hughes.
Avalon will also expand the senior distribution team, with Adam Barth joining as SVP Scripted & Digital Distribution, working alongside Carly Hardman-Betts who continues as SVP Global Formats & Programme Sales.
Over the past decade Isobel Hughes and Carly Hardman-Betts have together built Avalon’s distribution business with Avalon’s library containing over 4000 episodes distributed in 150 markets around the world, across linear, cable, streaming and AVOD platforms.
Under the new leadership structure, Warwick will lead the distribution team that has seen continual growth with both scripted shows such as Starstruck, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Not Going Out, Breeders and Catastrophe, as well as unscripted formats such as Taskmaster and Dog’s Behaving Very Badly. Paula Warwick has launched and grown a number of global TV franchises including Masterchef, Hell’s Kitchen, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, The Biggest Loser and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Warwick steps up from her current role at Avalon where she was responsible for the international roll-out of the Taskmaster format in international markets. She has previously held positions of Head of International Formats at Lionsgate, Head of International Productions at Shine Group and Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at ITV.
Adam Barth joins Avalon from Eccho Rights/Night Train Media where he held the role of Head of Commercial & Distribution and Director of Co-Productions. Barth worked, and is an executive producer, on shows including, Vanishing Triangle, As Long As We Live, The Inheritance, Granite Harbour and the upcoming Safe Harbor. Prior to this, Barth worked at NENT Studios UK (formerly DRG), where he was Commercial Director & SVP for EMEA and New Media Vision, working on international format adaptations including Mysteries of Laura, Shameless, and Doc Martin.
Carly Hardman-Betts joined Avalon’s distribution team in 2007 working across all territories and across both scripted and unscripted series. Hardman-Betts was responsible for setting up the Taskmaster franchise in over 10 territories, including international Avalon productions in Australia (Network 10), Norway (TV Norge) and Sweden (TV4). Hardman-Betts started her career in production at ITV.
Laura Kennedy, Avalon CEO, said: “We are excited to announce Paula as our new distribution head and delighted to welcome Adam to the company. I know Paula, along with a brilliant team, will continue to build on Isobel’s success. I would like to say a massive thank you to Isobel for her dedication over the years, scaling Avalon’s distribution business into an independent powerhouse.”
Paula Warwick, Head of Distribution, said: “To head up the distribution business at Avalon is an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to continue working with its world-class creative teams, to bring the absolute best shows across scripted and unscripted to our partners around the world.”
Adam Barth, SVP Scripted & Digital Distribution, said: “I’m thrilled to join the distribution team at Avalon and collaborate with their talented group. Avalon’s track record speaks for itself, and I’m excited to maximize licensing opportunities for Avalon’s impressive catalogue and upcoming scripted slate.”
Carly Hardman-Betts, SVP Global Formats & Programme Sales, added: “I’m excited to start the new year at Avalon with this exceptionally talented new team in place. Isobel will be greatly missed by all of us here and everyone in the business who has worked with her.”
Jon Creamer
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