Twofour hires BBC formats exec

ITV-owned UK prodco Twofour has hired a leading formats executive from the BBC to grow its factual entertainment slate at home and abroad.

Ana De Moraes

Ana De Moraes is leaving the corporation after two years to take up the newly created role of head of new formats.

She is currently creative director for development central at the BBC, a role she was recruited to by Danny Cohen in 2004 to boost cross-genre collaboration and creativity.

De Moraes, who was director of development at producer Twenty Twenty for nearly a decade, is credited with BBC2 singing format The Choir and hit Channel 4 series First Dates, which was recently picked up for local adaptation by Australia’s Seven Network.

Andrew Mackenzie, chief creative officer of the Twofour Group, said: “Ana has always been a star of the development industry. She’s got an incredible track record and we’re delighted she’s joining Twofour.”

De Moraes added: “There are very few indies with a range of output equal to Twofour’s, which goes from documentaries to full-blown entertainment. And what is even more remarkable is the quality with which they deliver every single programme they make.”

De Moraes will start in February, reporting to Mackenzie.