Acquisitions chief has been with the Canadian company for three years
Lilla Hurst, global head of acquisitions and content strategy at Blue Ant Studios, is stepping down from her role at the Canadian company.
Hurst joined the production and distribution giant in 2022 after the Toronto-headquartered firm acquired Drive Media Rights, which Hurst had launched with Ben Barrett in 2013.
Production funding and distribution outfit Drive had built up a library of over 900 hours of content, consisting of mainly unscripted programming, spanning documentary, history, science, crime, lifestyle and paranormal.
That catalogue became part of the library at Blue Ant, where Hurst has more recently worked on deals including the bumper distribution pact with Red Bull Studios and a trio of factual shows with Australian outfit WildBear Entertainment.
Prior to Drive, Hurst worked as head of sales at TVF International and led co-productions at RDF. She launched funding firm Lillavision in 2008 before setting up Drive with Barrett, who remains at Blue Ant as global head of content financing and partnerships.
The deal comes a month after Blue Ant went public by completing its reverse takeover of fellow Canadian outfit Boat Rocker Studios, although Hurst’s decision is not connected to that development.
Hurst is taking time out next year to explore her next move and said: “I’ve loved working at Blue Ant and am departing in what is going to be a very exciting era for the company as it goes public and looks to consolidate its position in the TV universe even further.
“I’ll also be leaving behind my wonderful team in Toronto, who I have no doubt will continue to do great work and are in a great place to support my replacement when they arrive.”
Deadline broke news of Hurst’s departure.
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