Former All3Media International exec has most recently been leading sales at France’s Mediawan
BBC Studios has appointed Mediawan’s Sally Habbershaw as its president of global distribution, Broadcast International has learned.
Habbershaw takes up an extensive remit at the UK-headquartered company, with oversight of worldwide content sales, strategy and exploitation of IP.
She will also lead on content investment priorities and route-to-market planning across all genres and territories, working with the company’s scripted, unscripted, global productions, kids & family and audio teams.
She starts 29 September and reports to Zai Bennett, BBC Studios Global Content chief exec and chief creative officer.
Habbershaw’s appointment comes nine months after BBCS’s former president of global content sales Janet Brown revealed she would be stepping down from the company after it moved the distribution role to London, as revealed by Broadcast International.
BBCS has been reshaping its strategy over the past year with distribution and content sales being combined under the purview of Bennett.
Habbershaw joins having most recently been chief distribution officer at Mediawan, leading international sales and its acquisitions strategy.
She joined the company 12 months ago and relocated to the UK, having previously spent almost a decade at All3Media International as exec vice-president of Americas.
Prior to that she had stints at A&E Networks and AMC Networks, working on shows such as Mad Men at the latter, and also counts Viacom among other former employers.
Bennett said: “Sally is one of the most accomplished and respected executives in the business and her experience across content investment, distribution, platforms and production makes her uniquely positioned to lead our global content distribution operation.
“She brings a rare combination of commercial leadership, creative instincts and deep global market expertise, alongside an exceptional track record of building partnerships and delivering growth across some of the industry’s most successful content businesses.
“I look forward to working with her as we continue to maximise the value and reach of our outstanding content portfolio.”
Habbershaw added: “I’m thrilled to be joining BBC Studios. After 20 years in the US and, more recently, in France, coming home to do this work here matters to me.
“The content and the brand speak for themselves. What made the opportunity irresistible is the moment and the people. Zai has built a leadership team that is ambitious, thinks differently and is set on making a real impact.
“I’ve spent my career on the other side of the table from the BBC, so I arrive with a clear view of its strengths and of the work ahead. I can’t wait to get started.”
BBCS has been rejigging its US-based execs over recent weeks, with LA-based scripted chief Mark Linsey and FAST exec Beth Anderson among those departing.
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