Jackson resurfaces at Plimsoll

Plimsoll Productions, the fledgling UK indie launched by former Zodiak USA chief Grant Mansfield, has appointed former Discovery and BBC exec Andrew Jackson as its new exec VP of international production.

Jackson, who left Discovery in June, will be responsible for developing a US expansion strategy for Plimsoll, reporting directly to CEO Mansfield and working closely with newly appointed agents William Morris Endeavor (WME).

The factual specialist, who has more than 30 years of TV experience, left his role as head of the Natural History Unit at the BBC in 2012 and subsequently became exec VP of production and development of landmark series and specials at Discovery.

During his two-year stint, he oversaw all of the channel’s specials, with a focus on natural history, science and history production and development. He was involved in projects such as North America, Monster Squid – The Giant is Real, Africa, Curiosity, Winged Planet and the 2013 Shark Week, amongst others.

Prior to that, he had spent three years at the BBC working on more than 40 series and specials and was responsible for the award-winning production unit based in Bristol. His credits include Frozen Planet, Lost Land of the Tiger and Ocean Giants.

Before that, he was MD of UK-based Tigress Productions where he built the company into one of Discovery Communications’ largest UK suppliers of natural history, science and adventure programming.

Mansfield launched Plimsoll in September last year with offices in Bristol and London. The firm focuses on reality and wildlife programming for UK and US broadcasters.

“Andrew is a leader in factual and non-fiction documentary filmmaking, has more than two decades experience of working in the US market and is the perfect executive to help Plimsoll expand Stateside,” Mansfield said.

“Together with our new partners at WME we are now perfectly positioned to develop and produce directly for American broadcast and cable networks.”

UK broadcaster ITV recently commissioned Plimsoll’s Prom Crazy: Frocks and Ferraris, a documentary special about the rise of American-style prom events in the UK.

The company has sold more than a half a dozen projects, including two new factual entertainment formats, a four-part international wildlife adventure series and a five-part blue chip natural history landmark show.