Zai Bennett Joins BBC Studios Productions

BBC Studios has tapped Sky alum Zai Bennett as the new CEO and chief creative officer for BBC Studios Productions.

Bennett’s remit will span the company’s U.K. and international production units (including the Natural History Unit), owned labels and invested indies across its global entertainment, factual, scripted, kids and family and audio genres. He will be tasked with building high-value, distributable IP, maintaining BBC returning series and key brands, securing new commissions and expanding BBC Studios’ international format pipeline through development capabilities in existing markets as well as expansion into new territories.

Bennett joins from Sky, where he is currently managing director of content. One of Bennett’s first roles in TV was at Channel 5, where he scheduled the channel’s launch night before joining ITV as part of the core team that launched ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4, working his way up to become director of the digital channels.

He takes up his new position in November and will report to CEO Tom Fussell, joining BBC Studios’ executive committee.

Fussell said: “Zai’s risk-taking creative hit-rate speaks for itself. He has impact and gravitas and can propel BBC Studios Productions even faster forward without losing the deeply engrained BBC ethos all who work here share. His deep genre experience in scripted comedy and drama through to factual entertainment, documentaries, film and kids, coupled with the relationships he’s cultivated with the very best creative talent, will complement our production business growth plans and take us to the next level domestically and globally. I can’t wait for him to start.”

Bennett: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the powerhouse that is BBC Studios Productions this autumn. BBC Studios Productions has a special place in the production ecosystem, upholding the BBC’s unique purpose and values in everything they do, while marrying this with creative commerciality to help export the BBC’s brand around the world as a champion for the highest quality programming in every genre. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join Tom’s team, his ambition and plans for BBC Studios are clear, exhilarating and infectious. I can’t wait to work with him and the world-class creative teams across all the genres and divisions to help keep driving BBC Studios Productions’ growth and stature around the world.”