UKTV and BBCS chiefs lead tributes to Melanie Rumani

BBC Studios and UKTV global head of acquisitions Melanie Rumani has passed away from cancer, aged 50.

BBCS chief exec Tom Fussell and UKTV boss Marcus Arthur led the tributes to the respected and longstanding TV exec, noting her “contribution to BBC Studios and the wider BBC Group cannot be underestimated”.

“She was fearless and tenacious in her approach to dealmaking, and this translated into how she approached everyday life too,” Fussell said. “We are all in total admiration of how she tackled her illness and her determination to continue working despite the challenges that presented.

“Mel is going to be hugely missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with her and our thoughts are with Mel’s husband Hass and her wider family and friends.”

Rumani joined BBCS in 2006, holding various positions within sales and acquisitions, sourcing content for 40 individual pay TV channels and BBC-branded SVoD services.

During her 19-year tenure, she helped launch new channels across multiple territories including BBC Earth, BBC Brit and BBC First,

In 2020 she was handed the expanded remit of her current role, overseeing global acquisitions for BBCS and UKTV – for which she delivered a raft of global deals with studios around the world. She worked with hundreds of people across the business and her husband, Hass Rumani, serves at UKTV as head of content funding.

Rumani is remembered by her husband, family and colleagues, with a statement from UKTV saying that “she will be hugely missed.”

Chief exec Arthur said Rumani had “incredible resilience, and she brought a fast-paced energy and determination to everything she tackled”.

“Her wealth of knowledge was incredible, and she was highly regarded in the industry for her expertise and professionalism,” he continued. “Mel was also funny, kind and passionate. She was an inspiration to all of us and our thoughts are with Mel’s husband and our much-loved colleague Hass, at this terribly sad time.”