Twofour Group to Merge with Boom Pictures

LONDON: Twofour Group, which spans Twofour Broadcast, Twofour Rights and Twofour Digital, is combining with Boom Pictures.

The two labels will keep their names and branding, with the senior management continuing in their current roles or taking on larger remits within the Boom Pictures Group.

Charles Wace will be stepping down from his role as CEO of Twofour Group, but will remain involved through his new roles on the Boom Pictures board as non-executive chairman of Twofour and a non-executive director of Boom Pictures.

Melanie Leach will continue to serve as managing director of Twofour Broadcast and also becomes an executive director of Boom Pictures, taking a seat on the board.

Mark Hawkins will remain as the managing director of Twofour Digital and Rocket Science. He will also become an executive director of Boom Pictures with a seat on the board.

Andy Mackenzie continues as creative director of Twofour Broadcast. Anthony Hughes, currently the commercial director at Twofour, becomes commercial director of Boom Pictures. He will work across the group and will continue to head Twofour Rights. Time Jackman, previously the director of legal and business affairs at Twofour Group, will now take on the group-wide role of director of legal and business affairs at Boom Pictures.

Lorraine Heggessey, the executive chair and co-founder of Boom Pictures, said: “We’re on an exciting journey and it’s the right time for us to join up with such an excellent creative and executive team who have already built a hugely successful company. Boom and Twofour fit together perfectly and have a similar positive culture, firmly rooted in the Nations and Regions. We have got off to a flying start in our first year, building Boom’s programming, and attracting major comedy and drama talent. This deal will cement our position as a new leading player in the indie sector.”

Charles Wace, the founder and CEO of Twofour Group, added: “Lorraine and Huw are building a fast-growing dynamic media group in Boom Pictures, that is set to become a leading force in the U.K. and internationally. In looking at the future of Twofour’s business, the attraction was the backing of LDC, one of the U.K.’s leading and most experienced private equity firms, combined with Lorraine’s leadership and vision. This ambitious partnership is the ideal platform to help take Twofour to the next stage in its life.”

Huw Eurig Davies, the deputy chair and co-founder of Boom Pictures, commented: “The strategic value of this deal, at this stage in our development, is that it fulfils several key business growth ambitions. It gives us real scale, a base from which to grow in the U.S. and brings distribution in-house so we can benefit from the rights that come from our creativity. Importantly for us as a Welsh group, the synergy with Twofour as a company that has also grown its roots in the regions means that we have expanded our footprint, making the Boom Pictures group a key supplier outside of London.”

Melanie Leach, the managing director of Twofour Broadcast, added: “From Educating Yorkshire to Splash!, Alex Polizzi: The Fixer to Holiday Hit Squad, Twofour’s slate has continued to strengthen under the current management team and we’re excited to work alongside Lorraine and Huw as we build what we hope will become one of the U.K.’s most admired media groups.”

Mark Hawkins, the managing director of Twofour Digital and Rocket Science, commented: “Twofour Digital has had a fantastic year, and this deal will equip us with the investment and scale to keep building on our award-winning work with brands, broadcasters and public sector organisations all over the world, as well as opening up new relationships and opportunities.”