ITVS rejigs global scripted and hires All3MI exec

ITV Studios is rejigging its senior sales ranks by handing a new role to its vice president of global scripted and appointing an All3Media International exec.

Louisa Forsyth becomes vice president of UK and Ireland sales and will lead distribution for ITVS’ pre-sales, co-productions and sales across its 100,000+ hour catalogue.

Forsyth, who was most recently heading up scripted content globally for ITVS, joined the UK-based group in 2018 after a 16-year tenure at Sky and now reports into Jemma Harvey, executive vice president of EMEA & UK sales and distribution.

Broadcast international understands the change will see Harry Arkwright promoted to become vice president of global content, covering both scripted and unscripted. He will work alongside Robert Samuelson, who remains vice president of global scripted content.

ITVS has also hired Jonathan Hughes from All3MI as its vice president of Germany and Benelux sales.

Hughes spent a decade at All3MI, where he managed sales for German-speaking Europe, France, and Benelux, dealing with brands such as Midsomer Murders, All Creatures Great and Small, and Fleabag.

He also expanded All3Media’s German co-production footprint, securing deals for Van Der Valk, The Assassin, The Tourist, Boarders, and Generation Z, and worked on formats such as The Traitors, Race Across the World and Gogglebox.

Hughes joins ITVS following the merger between All3MI and Banijay. Its combined sales arm is to be led by the latter’s Cathy Payne after All3MI’s chief exec Louise Pedersen revealed she would be leaving the company.

Harvey described Forsyth and Hughes as “outstanding commercial strategists”, adding: “Louisa’s deep-rooted relationships with British producers and her intimate knowledge of our organisation make her an exciting choice to spearhead our UK sales strategy.

“Jonathan’s unrivalled track record in driving high-value sales and co-productions across EMEA made him the natural choice for growing our business in Germany and Benelux.”

ITVS has been rejigging its sales team over recent months, hiring former MGM exec Zack Wallace to oversee unscripted in the US and LatAm, as well as ex-TVF International exec Ben Nohr to work across France and Germany.

Other changes include Eliana Barbosa leading unscripted in Italy, Iberia and CEE, while Lucy Pryke has been upped from sales exec to sales manager of unscripted in the Nordics and Benelux.