Passion sales veteran joins DRG

Elin Thomas has been named DRG executive VP of sales

The former director of global sales at Passion Distribution has resurfaced in a new role at Modern Times Group-owned DRG.

Elin Thomas, whose exit from Mentorn-owned UK sales house Passion was announced last week, will join UK-based DRG as executive VP of sales.

A former director of global formats for BBC Worldwide (BBCWW), Thomas joined Passion in 2014 as global head of sales. She was promoted to director of global sales in 2015, overseeing Passion’s sales and format division.

At DRG, Thomas will lead the company’s growing sales operation, reporting to MD Richard Halliwell. She will also manage the UK territory on a day-to-day basis, as well as relationships with key global clients.

Meanwhile, Emilie Kleinmann, a former sales manager for Arte in France, is also joining the company and will relocate to London to become a senior sales manager for France and Germany at DRG.

The two new appointments are the latest additions to a remodelled and growing DRG team, which also added Jo Halstead and Amity Easter Utley in November last year.

The recent hires have sparked a rejig of DRG’s sales team, with two senior VPs, Joel Atley and Scott Kirkpatrick, taking on additional responsibilities.

Atley’s remit has expanded to cover Northern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe along with Asia Pacific, while Kirkpatrick now oversees Western Europe, in addition to North and South America. Both will report directly to Thomas.