Nat Geo adds FIC exec to London hub

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has reshuffled the management team at its global content hub in London with a series of commissioning and acquisition appointments.

Mark Francis becomes VP of commissioning and regional programming and will order content from prodcos based both in the UK and around the world.

Francis, who will also collaborate with NGCI’s local teams on their regional programming strategies, joins from Fox International Channels (FIC) Asia-Pacific and Middle East, where he was VP of production and development for factual and unscripted entertainment.

He will be based in London and report to Hamish Mykura, exec VP and head of international content at NGCI. Francis replaces Hannah Demidowicz, who left in August to join BBC Worldwide.

Meanwhile Maggie Rhodes has been promoted to VP of global acquisitions and coproductions.

Rhodes has been at NGCI since 2005 and runs the global acquisitions team. Her remit includes working across acquisitions, presales and coproductions for National Geographic Channel internationally and in the US, as well as sibling networks Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo People. She will continue to report to Carlyn Staudt, senior VP of global programming, based in Washington DC.

Emanuele Madeddu has also been promoted at NGCI’s global marketing group to become senior VP of marketing and creative, adding responsibility for Nat Geo Play to his remit.

In other news, MarbleMedia-owned Canadian sales house Distribution360 has sold documentary series Tessa & Scott (7×30’) to the fledgling Nat Geo People channel to air in 11 territories.

Produced by Media Headquarters, the series follows ice dancers Tessa Birtue and Scott Moir as they attempt to regain their world title.