BBC Worldwide Chief Content Officer Helen Jackson to Depart

The newly merged BBC Studios has put in place the rest of its new leadership team, while BBC Worldwide’s chief content officer, Helen Jackson, is leaving the company after 31 years.

Jackson will remain at BBC Studios throughout 2018, working closely with indie partners and continuing as a director on the board of a number of invested indies. CEO Tim Davie commented: “Helen’s contribution to the BBC is hard to overstate. She has had both the vision and the relationships to attract numerous producers to BBC Worldwide over many years and is rightly held in the highest regard both inside and outside the organization.”

The new BBC Studios structure sets four genres MDs, three regional presidents and three group services roles. Hannah Wyatt has been named managing director for factual entertainment and events. Lisa Opie is MD for factual, while Nick Betts is MD for scripted. Suzy Lamb will serve as MD for entertainment and music.

Ann Sarnoff takes on the role of president for the Americas, and Marcus Arthur as president for the U.K. and Ireland as well as Australia and New Zealand. Paul Dempsey remains president of global markets.

Charlotte Elston, director of communications, becomes responsible for all communications across the new BBC Studios globally. David Moody, director of strategy and business development, will be leading all strategy and business development for the company. Jaclyn Lee-Joe, chief marketing officer, will be leading global brands, brand strategy for global services and marketing for all business and formats.

The appointments will take effect in April with the formation of the new company.

Davie said: “Now that Mark [Linsey, CCO] and I have our full executive committee in place, we are looking forward to getting on with growing BBC Studios as a world-class home for British creativity.”