Blue Ant taps Discovery sales exec

Canadian distributor Blue Ant International has appointed Discovery’s director of international sales and licensing for the UK and EMEA to a role in London.

Gerbrig Blanksma

Gerbrig Blanksma has been named senior VP of international sales and partnerships at the sales arm of Canada’s Blue Ant Media.

Blanksma will oversee international sales across the UK and Italy from London, reporting to Blue Ant International exec VP Solange Attwood, who is currently on maternity leave.

She will be tasked with growing the division’s library of premium third-party content across the documentary, factual entertainment, specialist factual, scripted and kids and family genres.

The exec will also lead sales and partnerships opportunities for UK-based, pan-regional buyers across all linear and non-linear platforms.

“Gerbrig’s strong relationships within the international sales community are a huge win for Blue Ant International,” said Attwood.

Blanksma has more than 13 years’ experience in senior international distribution roles and was most recently director, international sales and licensing, UK and EMEA, at Discovery. She held the same role at Scripps prior to its acquisition by Discovery.

Before that, Blanksma spent almost 10 years at Netherlands- and UK-based producer and distributor Off the Fence, culminating in her appointment as VP, sales and business development.

With a slate of more than 3,500 hours of premium content, Blue Ant has sales operations in London, Toronto and LA.