Tigress MD’s retirement sparks reshuffle

Sarah Swingler

Endemol Shine UK-owned Tigress Productions has appointed the boss of its sister company Dragonfly’s Welsh arm to replace its retiring MD.

Dick Colthurst is retiring this autumn after 35 years in the industry, including 12 at My Life on a Plate producer Tigress, to live in the Alps.

Sarah Swingler, an executive producer at One Born Every Minute producer Dragonfly for the past six years, is taking his place at the factual outfit, which specialises in wildlife content.

Swingler most recently headed up the Cardiff-based operation of Dragonfly West, for which she will continue to consult in her new role.

Also joining Tigress Productions is Catherine Welton from RDF West, who has been appointed creative director.

This follows the departure of Pete Lawrence, who recently left Tigress to pursue his own television and writing projects.

“The realisation that I could soon be travelling to meetings in London on a senior railcard makes it time to hand over to someone new and Sarah will do a brilliant job taking Tigress forward,” said Colthurst.

Tigress’s recent credits include Marooned with Ed Stafford for Discovery, A Year in the Wild: Loch Lomond for Channel Five and My Life on a Plate for BBC1.

The company was also behind three seasons of Everest: Beyond the Limit for Discovery Channel, Countdown to the Rains for BBC2 and The Elephant: Life After Death for Channel 4.