Former Banijay UK CEO, Lucinda Hicks has been appointed CEO of SISTER Group by Elisabeth Murdoch, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman and Jane Featherstone, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer.
Based in London, Hicks will drive the strategic direction and oversee execution of the independent studio and its partner companies.
Alongside the announcement, Chris Fry, currently Group CFO and interim CEO, has been promoted to the newly created role of Group COO in addition to his duties as CFO.
The appointments follow the decision taken at the end of 2024 to move group operations from the US and sell globally from the UK. Fry’s promotion is separate to that of namesake Chris Fry’s at SISTER London last month.
The pair will work closely with SISTER London, the creative production arm behind acclaimed series including Black Doves, Eric, The Split and This is Going To Hurt which continues to be led by Featherstone and its existing leadership team.
SISTER recently increased its investment in Dorothy St Pictures the indie behind The Greatest Night in Pop, Pamela: A Love Story and the forthcoming Victoria Beckham docuseries (with Studio 99) for Netflix.
Sister Group also houses British animation company Locksmith Animation (Ron’s Gone Wrong, That Christmas); new non-scripted TV and tech entertainment company Yes Yes Media from Richard Bacon, whose debut format Silence is Golden launches soon, and a partnership with London music venue KOKO. In the US, SISTER has invested in Peabody-nominated podcast studio Campside Media; Zando, the publishing venture from Molly Stern behind recent NYT Best Sellers The Butcher Game, Leather & Lark and Lights Out; Unanimous Media, Stephen Curry’s content studio, and AWA Studios, a comic book, film & TV studio.
“Lucinda takes the reins at a truly exciting point in SISTER’s evolution with our global facing TV and Film operations now led from the UK, creative partner businesses maturing and showing almost limitless potential,” said Murdoch. “She is one of the most talented creative executives of her generation, who has run indies and groups, has a proven track record in nurturing creative talent, founding start-ups, and driving major M&A activity and an ingrained international perspective – a skillset and experience perfectly suited to lead us in our next chapter. I couldn’t be happier that she will be doing so, and with the close support at Group of Chris Fry, who has steered us so adeptly in recent months as interim and whose impact in supporting our partners since the start has been immeasurable.”
“We are a creator-led business and Lucinda is a true champion of creatives. Having had the pleasure of working with her both at Shine Group and more recently through her work with us as a consultant, I know implicitly the acumen, leadership and impact that she will bring to the role,” said Featherstone
In her most recent full-time role as Banijay UK CEO, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Endemol Shine UK, Hicks oversaw the UK’s portfolio of over twenty production companies including the successful roll out of IP globally. Having started her TV career in strategy and commercial development roles at Fremantle, Channel 4 and the BBC Hicks joined Shine Group in 2010, initially as VP for Global Business Development and then across several areas of the business including the Nordics, digital and as Joint MD of factual powerhouse Dragonfly. Since 2022, Hicks has operated in an advisory capacity to several media companies including SISTER and Channel 4.
“SISTER is synonymous with excellence and unique in the creative diversity of the incredible companies that sit within the fold,” said Hicks. “I’ve seen recently first-hand how that reputation is rightly earned and how the ambition to continually raise the bar is unrelenting and so characteristic of Liz and Jane. Having had the privilege of working with them and the brilliant Chris Fry in different guises across the years it’s genuinely energising to be joining them, and the supremely talented SISTER team in this role at this time.”
Fry joined SISTER in 2019 as the Global CFO from Endemol Shine Australia. At Endemol Shine Australia, Fry was the CFO having led the integration of the Endemol and Shine businesses in 2015. Prior to his time in Australia, he held senior roles in finance, corporate development, and strategy in both the UK and US at Shine Group. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Fry said, “Lucinda supports creatives and scales companies, and I am so excited to be working with her again at a time of such promise across the business.”
Upcoming projects from SISTER London include the second season of Black Doves (Netflix), as well as The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix), The Dream Lands (BBC One/NBC Universal), Cold Water (ITV) and Prodigies (Apple TV+). SISTER has produced shows including Eric (Netflix), Kaos (Netflix), Passenger (ITV/Britbox); The Power(Prime Video); This is Going to Hurt (BBC/AMC); Landscapers (SKY/HBO); The Split 1-3 (BBC One/AMC+); Gangs of London (SKY/AMC); the Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Chernobyl (Sky/HBO) and Dan Levy’s directorial debut film Good Grief (Netflix).
Photo Credit: Ludovic Robert
Jon Creamer
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