Universal International Studios label Monkey has appointed Helen Kruger Bratt as managing director.
Working in collaboration with creative directors Will Macdonald and David Granger, as well as the studio, Kruger Bratt is tasked with driving Monkey’s next phase of growth and overseeing operations. She is also responsible for identifying opportunities to develop and grow talent within the business.
She joins from Lime Pictures, where she served as Head of Production for three years encompassing Lime Unscripted, Wise Owl films and Lion Television. During her time, Kruger Bratt helped grow the business and slate of entertainment, reality, documentary and popular factual commissions for major broadcasters and platforms. Titles she oversaw include the long-running hit series The Only Way is Essex for ITVBe, E4’s Celebs Go Dating and MTV’s Geordie Shore.
Prior to Lime Pictures, she held the position of executive in charge of Production (EIC) within ITV Studios’ entertainment department, where she was responsible for the delivery of juggernauts such as I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Love Island and Saturday Night Takeaway. She was instrumental in the relaunch of Love Island for ITV2 in 2015 and worked closely with the commercial teams to bring brand partnerships to life.
She joins Monkey early in 2023.
Monkey co-founders and creative directors Will Macdonald and David Granger say: “We are in awe of Helen’s passion and the range of experience she brings and are so thrilled that she is coming to Monkey. We can’t wait to work with her across our current shows and the wide-ranging ambitions we have for the business in the UK and globally.”
Helen Kruger Bratt adds: “I’ve had an incredible three years at Lime and Lion, and I’m so proud of the range of shows, series and formats we’ve created and delivered during this time. I’m thrilled to join Will, Dave and the entire team at Monkey. I am already a huge fan of Monkey’s shows and it’s really exciting to be part of the wider Universal International Studios family in launching global formats together.”
Monkey has also hired Abby Woolf as its new head of Development. With 15 years of experience developing entertainment, comedy, reality and factual entertainment formats for UK and international broadcasters, networks and SVOD platforms. She previously held roles at BBC Studios, Endemol Shine Group and ITV Studios. Her credits include BBC and Netflix reality competition series Glow Up, the reboot of MTV’s Cribs and ITV gameshow Keep It In The Family.
Monkey has elevated production executive Emily Rai to head of Production. Having joined the company over four years ago, she has been at the helm of several shows including ITV2’s The Emily Atack Show and Celebrity Karaoke Club, ITVBe’s The Real Housewives of Cheshire & Jersey franchises, plus Dating No Filter for Sky.
The company’s slate of programming includes reality series Made In Chelsea, which is currently in its 24th season on E4 and is also available on Peacock in the US; season four of the ITV2 award-winning hip hop comedy show currently on air, Don’t Hate The Playaz; Generation Drag for discovery+; as well as the upcoming UK version of entertainment format That’s My Jam hosted by Mo Gilligan for BBC One and iPlayer, and new health format Know Your Sh!t for Channel 4.
Pippa Considine
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