UKTV unveils top creative team

UKTV has set its top creative team with expanded remits given to programming chief Steve North and commissioning director Hilary Rosen.

The pair will assume greater responsibility to cover the responsibilities of departing chief creative officer Richard Watsham. UKTV has confirmed the role will close following Watsham’s exit in September.

Chief programming officer North will take up the newly created role of chief content officer, overseeing content strategy and assuming oversight of UKTV’s content pipeline which spans original commissions and acquisitions as well as setting the overall content investment strategy.

He will continue covering existing duties such as viewing performance of UKTV’s channel brands and streaming service U – where he manages editorial direction and programming – as well as being editorial lead for the combined BBC Studios and UKTV global compliance teams.

North takes on management of the acquisitions team from Watsham, and reports into chief exec Marcus Arthur.

In her role, Rosen takes up creative leadership of all UKTV original commissioning across its channels, services and brands.

Reporting into North, she retains her title as director of commissioning and UKTV’s production management team will also become part of Rosen’s purview.

“Steve and Hilary have already played a huge role in driving UKTV’s success within their existing remits, and with Richard’s decision to step down, I saw an opportunity to further leverage their influence,” said Arthur.

He added that their new responsibilities will “position them perfectly to drive UKTV to further growth through their combined strategic and creative leadership”.

Rosen said: “Our commissioned content delivers ever increasing impact, and as I step in to this expanded role, I’m excited to spearhead relations with our much-valued producers and partners, old and new.

“I look forward to continuing to work with my outstanding team to drive positive change across the industry, championing the values of diversity, inclusion, sustainability and wellbeing.”

North added: “UKTV is in such an exciting place right now so what a great time to be taking on the responsibility of leading our entire content strategy and pipeline. As a company, we continue to go from strength to strength both in our performance and our ambition to deliver new, unmissable shows to our audiences across our digital and linear platforms.”

The pair will assume their new responsibilities for September.