Sky content boss Zai Bennett has jumped ship to BBC Studios Productions, where he has been appointed CEO and chief creative officer.
Bennett’s remit will span the company’s U.K. and international production units as well as owned labels (such as “Baby Reindeer” producer Clerkenwell Films) and invested indies. In terms of genre, it covers the entirety of the company’s output, including entertainment, factual, scripted, kids and family and audio. BBC Studios Productions’ output also includes large-scale live events, including last year’s Eurovision Song Contest and King Charles III’s coronation.
In the new role, Bennett will be tasked with building IP, maintaining returning series and brands, securing new commissions and expanding BBC Studios’ international format pipeline.
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At Comcast-owned Sky, where Bennett has spent the last decade, his latest role was managing director of content, overseeing brands such as Sky Cinema and Sky Kids as well as commissioning premium content including “Chernobyl” and “Gangs of London” and acquisitions such as “House of the Dragon.” The move comes following a management reshuffle at Sky earlier this year, where Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz expanded her role across the U.K. and Ireland content business (excluding sports). The shake-up saw Bennett directly report to Frot-Coutaz. Bennett previously reported to Sky CEO for U.K. and Ireland Stephen van Rooyen, who left the company in February.
Before joining Sky, Bennett was a controller at BBC Three.
He joins BBC Studios during one of its most tumultuous periods in recent history, with its long-running competition show “Strictly Come Dancing” currently under investigation over allegations of bullying and abuse while questions have also been asked of subsidiary Clerkenwell Films over its duty of care over “Baby Reindeer,” which is currently the subject of a multi-million lawsuit against Netflix.
“Zai’s risk-taking creative hit-rate speaks for itself,” said Tom Fussell, CEO of BBC Studios. “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.”
Bennett said: “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.”
