Lightbox makes raft of leadership team promotions

Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn’s indie, Lightbox, has announced a raft of changes to its leadership team.

Vanessa Tovell, previously Chief Operating Officer, becomes Managing Director; Suzanne Lavery becomes Creative Director, overseeing all UK-based documentary series; Ben Samuel is also promoted to Creative Director, overseeing all the company’s development across the UK and US offices; Polly Allen is promoted to Head of Production, UK. Gabby Peeters is upped to VP and Head of Development, UK; with Alexis Gomez-Garcia adding Head of Development, US to her VP title. Carolyn Sperry Lewis is Lightbox’s SVP Production and Operations overseeing all areas of the company’s operations in its LA office.

Lightbox’s recent series and feature documentaries include Camden for Disney+ (and Hulu in the US) series directed by Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna) and executive produced by Dua Lipa; Double Emmy-nominated The Mission for National Geographic and theatrical release, directed by multiple Emmy-winners Jesse Moss and Amanda McBain, which premiered at Telluride and the London Film Festival, BAFTA; triple Emmy-nominated David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, which premiered at DOC NYC and launched on HBO/MAX in the US, and was the most watched documentary on Sky in the last two years, as well as generating tens of millions of views on TikTok and other social media platforms; and the Grierson Award shortlisted Donyale Luna: Supermodel.

Lightbox has also just announced its first fully scripted series, Gunpowder Siege, for Sky History and A+E Networks.

Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn, co-Founders of Lightbox said: “Despite the challenging climate facing our industry globally, Lightbox’s senior team has worked hard to navigate these headwinds to develop and produce a wide range of successful, award-winning series and feature documentaries for a growing number of networks and streamers globally, and to diversify into new and exciting areas such as factual drama. These promotions reflect their talent, resourcefulness and creativity and we are incredibly proud to have such a great group of colleagues working with us as we continue to build our business.”