BBC Studios Ups Lisa Opie to U.K. Production Managing Director

Lisa Opie has been promoted to the role of managing director of U.K. production for BBC Studios.

In her elevated position at the company, Opie will be responsible for delivering BBC Studios Productions’ business plan, defining and delivering the commercial strategy and be accountable for risk and business management. Opie will also sit on the BBC Studios Executive Committee and work closely with the genre managing directors. BBC Studios Director of Content Ralph Lee appointed Opie to her new role, which she will start with immediate effect.

Opie has most recently served as BBC Studios’ managing director of factual production, leading the creative heads, production management and business teams behind such programs as Blue Planet II, Killed By My Debt and Basquiat: Rags to Riches. During her tenure in the role, the company’s factual production team secured numerous third-party commissions, including Wildlife Warriors (formerly The Red List) for Discovery, Royal Wedding Watch for PBS, Fatberg Autopsy: The Secrets of the Sewers for Channel 4 and Stay Free: The Story of The Clash for Spotify.

Previously, Opie was the BBC’s controller of business for factual and daytime. She joined the BBC in 2013 from Twofour Digital, where she was managing director. Opie has also held roles at Channel Five and Flextech Television, a former partner with the BBC in UKTV.

Lee said: “Lisa is a brilliant leader, with immense energy and business acumen. She has contributed greatly to BBC Studios’ commercial success to date. Under her watch, the factual production team has won a raft of exciting commissions and produced outstanding content. I am delighted that she is taking on this new role, helping to ensure we continue to deliver and grow our world-class programming across the full breadth of our genres and specialisms.”

Opie added, “I’m incredibly proud of everything that the factual production team has achieved over the last three and a half years. I’m thrilled to be taking on this broader role, as we look to grow our production business in the U.K. and internationally—with a plethora of new platforms and new opportunities, it’s a very exciting time.”