Big Wave Productions Installs New Managing Director

Specialist factual producer Big Wave Productions has brought in Kirstie McLure to serve as its new managing director.

McLure served as managing director of Pioneer Productions from 2012 to 2016, helping to transform the company into a leading producer of factual content and positioning the company for its sale to Tinopolis Group.

The appointment sees Big Wave founder Sarah Cunliffe move from the managing director role to become CEO. Mark Woodward and Emma Ross become creative directors of Big Wave to work alongside McLure and Cunliffe.

Cunliffe commented: “This is a hugely exciting appointment that will help us to accelerate our growth. Kirstie’s appointment, coupled with the strengthening of the wider senior team, allows us to scale up our capacity to meet the increased demand we have seen for our programming. Kirstie is known for creating hundreds of hours of specialist factual programming for U.K., U.S. and international broadcasters. We have a tremendous overlap in our shared interests and vision for the company. We couldn’t ask for a better managing director.”

McLure said: “Big Wave has been at the forefront of blue sky innovative specialist factual programming for some time. Their ability to combine ‘deep-dive’ stories and the most outstanding visuals with passion and true understanding of the genre is exceptional. Not only are they producing content of the highest quality for broadcasters, their content inspires audiences and helps make real change. Never have I seen a company put so much heart and soul into its storytelling. I’m thrilled to be joining the team and cannot wait to get started.”

Cunliffe added: “Our team is immersed in the natural world. We want to tell incredible stories, stories that really make a difference for broadcasters wanting to make an impact. Emma and Mark have exceptional experience in this area. They live and breathe these stories and have made the most exceptional programming during their time with Big Wave. They are the perfect addition to our senior team.

“All these new appointments come hard on the heels of a successful year which saw the company win commissions and shoot throughout Covid. Our new projects for Nat Geo, Discovery and Smithsonian are all now in post, with a wide range of new commissions in the pipeline. It’s an incredibly exciting time for the company.”