BBC Worldwide Appoints New Director of Investment

LONDON, September 20: BBC
Worldwide has appointed Matt Forde as director of investment of the content and
production division.

Forde, formerly head of
commercial development at Independents, part of BBC Worldwide’s Indie Unit,
will manage the relationship between BBC Worldwide and BBC Vision. Working with
the BBC’s Commercial Agency, he and his team will be responsible for evaluating
the commercial viability of BBC Worldwide’s investments and funding into BBC
programming, in much the same way as the existing Indie Unit does for
independent production.

“Matt has played a
terrific role in the Indie Unit, ensuring BBC Worldwide is Britain's
distributor of choice,” says Wayne Garvie, the director
of content and production at BBC Worldwide. “His experience in supporting
creativity, knowledge of the international content business and reputation as a
straight-talker, make him the perfect choice to be our first Director of
Investment. He will ensure that the relationship between BBC Worldwide and BBC
Vision sets the gold standard for collaboration.”

“Having worked in the
international markets and more recently with independent producers, this is a
hugely exciting opportunity to work commercially and creatively with the BBC,”
adds Matt Forde, who will report to Garvie. “The relationship between the two
organizations is absolutely fundamental to everything BBC Worldwide does, and I
look forward to building collaborative partnerships with the Commercial Agency
and BBC Vision. As we enter the Digital Age, BBC Worldwide has the opportunity
to work with some of the most talented producers in the UK, to create
world-class content across all media for both domestic and international
audiences.”