Passion’s Elin Thomas Joins DRG

LONDON: Elin Thomas is joining DRG as its first-ever executive VP of sales.

Thomas was most recently director of global sales for Passion Distribution and before that director of global formats for BBC Worldwide. At DRG, she will oversee the company’s growing sales operation, reporting directly into Managing Director Richard Halliwell. Thomas will also manage the U.K. territory on a day-to-day basis, as well as relationships with key global clients.

Emilie Klienmann has come on board the DRG team as a senior sales manager. Klienmann, a former sales manager for ARTE France, will be overseeing France and Germany.

Additionally, two senior sales VPs, Joel Atley and Scott Kirkpatrick, have taken on additional responsibilities. Atley’s remit has expanded to cover Northern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe, along with the Asia Pacific, while Kirkpatrick now oversees Western Europe, in addition to North and South America. Both will report directly into Thomas.

Halliwell commented: “Elin is one of the most experienced and professional senior executives working in distribution today, so we are very excited to welcome her to the team. A flatter, more regionally based team structure has served us well over the past few years, with revenue growing dramatically, but in order for this to continue, we needed to evolve our approach to sales and reflect the current direction of our expanding business. It will always be vital to retain specific territory knowledge—and that is why we have employed an expert such as Emilie—but now with more global operators and a rapidly changing marketplace, we needed a team head who could look more strategically and holistically at the opportunities for our content—and thereby our producer clients—and ensure that we are always in a position to fully maximize revenues and effectively grow program brands.”

Thomas added: “DRG has given me a fantastic opportunity by creating this new position. It’s rare to join a company and not step into somebody else’s shoes so it is really stimulating—and challenging—to start with a clean sheet. I’ve worked at both big and small companies and DRG appealed as it offers the best of both; a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and independent feel, but with the financial support and backing of the Modern Times Group.”