BBC Studios has appointed of Cecilia Persson as Managing Director of Children’s. She will take up the role from January 1, 2022.
Reporting to Ralph Lee, CEO BBC Studios Productions, Persson will lead the new genre as it transitions from the public service broadcaster to BBC Studios Productions, and will “drive an ambitious global strategy, working in partnership with all areas of the business to ensure the most creative, efficient and effective approach to bring children’s content to our audiences around the world.”
Ralph Lee said: “Children’s is a special, unique genre with the power to shape language and worldview in younger audiences. Children’s joining BBC Studios Production is an exciting development full of opportunities, and Cecilia’s passion for the genre, as well as her experience in shaping and implementing strategy in this area, means she is brilliantly positioned to lead the business as it becomes an integral part of BBC Studios next year.”
Cecilia Persson said: “I feel privileged to be taking on this new role at such an important time. BBC Children’s content is globally renowned, and cherished by parents and kids alike. BBC Studios has bold ambitions to grow the value provided to younger audiences and I am looking forward to joining the brilliant teams on this journey.”
Persson’s CV includes more than 15 years at Warner Media, where she most recently held the role of VP Programming & Content Strategy EMEA; Acquisition & Co-Production International.
The integration of BBC Children’s in-house production was announced in March 2021 as part of BBC’s Director General, Tim Davie’s plans to drive commercial revenues. Scheduled for April 2022 the transition will see the new business bring together Studios Children’s hits (Bluey, Hey Duggee) and in-house hits (Blue Peter, JoJo & Gran Gran, My Mum Tracy Beaker) into one Children’s portfolio. As part of the transition, Director of Children’s Content, Henrietta Hurford-Jones, and her team will move from Content Partnerships to Studios Productions, mirroring changes that have already taken place within scripted and unscripted genres.
Jon Creamer
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