BritBox names international CEO

BBC Studios and ITV’s joint-venture streaming service BritBox has named Reemah Sakaan as its first international CEO.

Reemah Sakaan

Sakaan is currently group director for ITV SVoD, where she was responsible for the launch of BritBox in the UK, as well as chief brand and creative officer at BritBox Global, where she has been responsible for the editorial and marketing activities for BritBox internationally.

The BritBox international management team, including country manager for Australia Moira Hogan and exec VP and head of BritBox North America Emily Powers, will report to Reemah once she takes up the role in April.

As CEO, she will be responsible for the growth of BritBox International outside the UK, overseeing a roll-out in up to 25 territories, which continued last week with a launch in South Africa.

The ad-free SVoD streaming service launched in North America in March 2017. In the UK, BritBox debuted in November 2019, followed by Australia in November 2020.

Soumya Sriraman led the venture as president and CEO in North America following its initial launch there but left in October last year to join Amazon and was replaced by Powers.

Carolyn McCall, ITV’s CEO, said: “The role attracted a very impressive field of external candidates which reflects the strength and appeal of the BritBox brand. Reemah was deservedly successful and I am really pleased that she will lead BritBox internationally.”

Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, added: “This is an important moment for Britbox and its ambitions to become a truly global brand. We know international audiences are turning to the service for great British television and with Reemah heading up the next phase of growth I am confident we will see further success.”