Indie Twenty Twenty has promoted Emma Willis to the role of Managing Director.
She will report in to Ronald Goes, Exec VP and head of Twenty Twenty’s owner Warner Bros International Television Production (WBITVP).
Willis, who moves up from creative director, will continue to lead Twenty Twenty’s creative vision while taking on responsibility “for the company’s overall commercial strategy of building shows into global brands.”
Also, Hana Canter has been promoted, to the role of Business Director, reporting in to Willis, and will be responsible for “maximising the commercial opportunities around both current and new formats.”
On her new role, Willis said: “I am absolutely delighted to be at the helm of this wonderful company and working with all the talented people here. It is a very exciting time for us, with a number of big commissions in the wings, and I look forward to leading Twenty Twenty in its next chapter of growth and creativity.”
Canter added: “I’m thrilled to be working with Emma and assisting her in steering the company forward on its journey of progression and growth. We have a huge amount to be excited about, both commercially and creatively, and I look forward to continuing to build on our great reputation and success.”
Goes commented: “Emma is a creative executive of the highest calibre and perfectly placed to lead Twenty Twenty onto even greater heights, ably supported by Hana’s considerable business experience and expertise. By appointing from within, we’re very pleased to be able to safeguard in the best possible way the company’s enviable reputation in the UK, and we congratulate both Emma and Hana on their richly deserved new roles.”
Willis moves from her previous position as Creative Director, which she held since joining the company in 2015. Her commissions include The Refugee Camp for BBC Two and the upcoming A House Through Time, also for BBC Two.
Before joining Twenty Twenty, Willis was Head of Documentary Commissioning at the BBC, where she commissioned shows including The Great British Bake Off, The Choir, The Secret History of Our Streets and The Great British Sewing Bee. She began her career at Yorkshire Television and has worked in both the independent sector and the BBC.
Canter has overseen all the company’s production output since joining Twenty Twenty in 2011, including the First Dates format, which is now in its 7th season in the UK and in 19 territories worldwide. She was also instrumental in managing the company’s transition to full ownership by Warner Bros.
Prior to joining Twenty Twenty, Canter worked for the Canadian company Cineflix. For 8 years before that she worked as a Production Executive at Endemol and was responsible for the launch of formats such as Deal Or No Deal, Pointless and Snog Marry Avoid.
Jon Creamer
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