Buccaneer chief exec to stand down

Buccaneer founder and chief executive Tony Wood is to step down from his position.

Wood, who co-created The Only Way Is Essex before launching Buccaneer with Cineflix Studios in 2013, is exiting to focus on exec producing. He will oversee the recently announced second season of Buccaneer’s Paramount+ drama The Crow Girl and other Buccaneer titles.

His departure comes a couple of months after co-chief executive Richard Tulk-Hart left his role to launch TV financing firm Volteo Media.

Piers Vellacott, Cineflix’s newly appointed chief commercial officer, content, will oversee Buccaneer going forward.

Co-founder and chief executive of Cineflix Glen Salzman said: “Since Cineflix partnered with Tony to set up Buccaneer, it has grown into a successful producer of premium, critically acclaimed dramas which have sold all around the world.

“We’re delighted to be maintaining our close relationship with Tony and Buccaneer’s talented team who continue to develop and deliver fantastic content.”

Wood added: “After 12 years overseeing the business of Buccaneer alongside developing and executive producing every series, we’ve made the time is right to return to what I enjoy most: making programmes.

“I am massively grateful to Cineflix for the opportunity to have created this company and am thrilled that my first freelance gig is to complete my work alongside the team on The Crow Girl—a show very close to my heart.”

Buccaneer’s recent productions include Channel 4’s In Flight, So Long, Marianne for NRK, Crave and ITVX, The Burning Girls for Paramount+ and Netflix and cosy crime drama Whitstable Pearl for Acorn TV. Under Wood’s steering, Buccaneer also produced hit ITV/Netflix co-pro Marcella, which ran for three series.