Mark Linsey Taking On New Role at BBC Studios

BBC Studios has appointed Chief Creative Officer Mark Linsey to take charge of its portfolio of production relationships, managing partnerships with indies and BBC Studios Production.

In addition to overseeing the company’s IP strategy and pipeline, Linsey will take charge of BBC Studios’ content partnerships team.

Three new content partnership leadership roles are also being announced as a result of these changes. Liam Keelan, currently director of scripted for content partnerships, is taking on the role of scripted portfolio director. Mark Reynolds, currently director of unscripted for content partnerships, is assuming the role of unscripted portfolio director. A yet-to-be-filled role for a new form portfolio director position will lead editorial strategy for content and platforms. These roles will be reporting directly to Linsey.

As a result of Linsey’s increased remit, he will relinquish his responsibilities as BBC Studios Production lead. A new director of content will be recruited. The role will work closely alongside Anna Mallett, managing director of production, who will have overall accountability for BBC Studios Production’s business and operations, as well as international production and formats. Both roles will report to BBC Studios CEO Tim Davie.

The changes are effective from September.

Davie said: “The media customer market has already changed so much; specifically in the digital space, and we are also seeing competitors increasing looking to strike deals directly with the creative talent. It’s imperative that we continue to develop our IP pipeline. Mark’s more than 20 years’ experience in the indie sector and his variety of senior roles within the BBC, including controller of entertainment commissioning and deputy director for BBC Television affords us the greatest opportunity to develop this area of our business significantly under his direction.”

Linsey added: “We are entering a golden age of partnerships now—we must be offering market-leading creative and commercial partnership to a thriving portfolio of creative assets. These changes will put us in a much stronger position to develop the very strongest relationships with British talent and deliver the best creative content for our audiences and our customers. We are going to be a better, bolder, braver partner to the industry; working with new talent, new content, and new platforms. And our content partnerships group will be key to achieving that.”