NBC hires C4 alum in UK

MIPCOM: US production and broadcast giant NBC Entertainment has hired a former Channel 4 (C4) exec to lead its UK partnerships.

Ed Havard

Ed Havard is joining the company as director of entertainment partnerships for the UK having left his role of head of entertainment and TV events at commercially funded UK pubcaster C4 in March.

Based in London, Havard will facilitate partnerships and business relationships between the UK and US. He will report to Enrique Guillen, executive VP of commercial strategy and international development.

Among his responsibilities, Havard will procure new partnerships with UK talent, both in front and behind the camera, that have potential for transatlantic crossover.

He will also oversee the development, production and launch of Universal Television Alternative Studios formats in the UK.

The role also entails finding and driving new business opportunities between NBC Entertainment, NBCUniversal International production companies, and the Sky portfolio of networks and production companies.

“We want to be the home for the best ideas and talent coming out of the UK,” Guillen said. “Ed’s 20 years of experience as a commissioner, developer and producer, and his relationships with key talent, will help make NBC Entertainment the first port of call for the vibrant UK creative community.”

At C4, Havard built a slate of award-winning shows and projects, including commissioning the pilot of NBC’s hit show Songland.

Havard began his career at news and current affairs at the BBC, where he was the editor of BBC1’s Question Time and produced a range of news and current affairs programmes and events.

His appointment follows NBCUniversal (NBCU) bringing its television studios, Universal Television and Universal Content Productions together to function as one business unit, known as NBCU Content Studios, earlier this month.