BBC Studios has named Zai Bennett as new CEO and Chief Creative Officer for its global content-making division BBC Studios Productions.
He joins from Sky where he is currently Managing Director of Content.
Bennett’s remit will span the company’s UK and international production units (including the Natural History Unit), owned labels and invested indies across its Global Entertainment, Factual, Scripted, Kids & Family and Audio genres.
He will be tasked with “building high value, distributable IP”, maintaining BBC returning series and key brands, securing new commissions – and expanding BBC Studios’ international format pipeline through development capabilities in existing markets as well as expansion into new territories. He will also be charged with “retaining the producer’s position as a provider of scale original streamer series, whilst also continuing to be the biggest supplier of content to the BBC.”
BBC Studios Productions is responsible for seven of the top 10 performing shows in the UK across 2023, including events such as Eurovision and the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla – plus drama like Happy Valley 3. Recent BBC Studios Productions unit output included series two of Jimmy McGovern’s Time, the David Attenborough-fronted landmark Planet Earth III, Nicolas Winding Refn’s take on children’s classic The Famous Five and Einstein and the Bomb. Wholly owned production labels delivered shows such as Baby Reindeer (Clerkenwell), Renegade Nell (Lookout Point) and the recently launched The Jetty (Firebird Pictures). As well as 12 production bases in the UK, BBC Studios also has bases in the Nordics, India, Australia, Spain, South Africa, Germany, France and the USA.
At Sky Bennett is principally responsible for Sky’s portfolio of entertainment services such as Sky Atlantic and Sky Max, Sky’s premium brands, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids as well as Sky’s FTA services like Sky Arts. He has ordered award-winning dramas such as Chernobyl, Gangs of London, Patrick Melrose, This England, Bulletproof and Discovery of Witches, award-winning hit comedies like Brassic and Sally4Ever as well as award-winning entertainment like Rob and Romesh Versus. He launched Sky’s factual services like Sky Documentaries and in cinema he has “supercharged” Sky’s Original films with titles like Michael Mann’s Ferrari, The Beekeeper and Kate Winslet’s Lee – and in Kids he oversaw the launch of Sky Kids linear service in 2023. Bennett also oversees all acquisitions adding titles like House of the Dragon, True Detective and The Rookie to Sky’s offering as well as negotiating film deals with the Hollywood studios for Sky Cinema.
He takes up his new position in November and will report into CEO Tom Fussell, joining BBC Studio’s Executive Committee.
Tom Fussell, CEO, BBC Studios says: “Zai’s risk-taking creative hit-rate speaks for itself. He has impact and gravitas and can propel BBC Studios Productions even faster forward without losing the deeply engrained BBC ethos all who work here share. His deep genre experience in scripted comedy and drama through to factual entertainment, documentaries, film and kids, coupled with the relationships he’s cultivated with the very best creative talent, will complement our production business growth plans and take us to the next level domestically and globally. I can’t wait for him to start.”
Zai Bennett commented: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the powerhouse that is BBC Studios Productions this autumn. BBC Studios Productions has a special place in the production ecosystem, upholding the BBC’s unique purpose and values in everything they do, while marrying this with creative commerciality to help export the BBC’s brand around the world as a champion for the highest quality programming in every genre. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join Tom’s team, his ambition and plans for BBC Studios are clear, exhilarating and infectious. I can’t wait to work with him and the world-class creative teams across all the genres and divisions to help keep driving BBC Studios Productions’ growth and stature around the world.”
Jon Creamer
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