BBC Studios ANZ confirms sales chief

BBC Studios’ acting head of content sales and coproduction in Australia/New Zealand (ANZ) has been confirmed in the position.

Deb Tod

Deb Tod took on the role in January following the retirement of Irene Read as director of content sales while ANZ MD Jon Penn reviewed the job’s scope.

As well as leading the content sales and coproductions team, Tod’s new duties include servicing broadcast and digital clients in the region and having input into global deals, content partnerships and coproductions on behalf of ANZ.

She is supported by the content sales team including sales manager Stephen O’Hanlon, sales executive Bruno Liporoni, digital sales exec Mell Caracatsanis, sales planning and support manager Donna Meaker and sales support execs Katie Rorison and Anna Douglas.

After joining BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide) as a senior sales executive in 2014, Tod was upped to sales manager the following year and to head of content sales in 2016.

During her tenure she has secured a number of key sales, including the current first-look agreement with Foxtel Lifestyle channels; natural history deals with the Nine Network and New Zealand’s TVNZ; catalogue packages with Netflix and local streamer Stan; and managing the first- and second-look deal with pubcaster the ABC.

Penn said: “Deb is a highly experienced and effective sales leader with strong relationships in the industry. I’m delighted that she will be bringing her passion and knowledge for BBC Studios’ content to the role, combined with her proven ability to think laterally and deliver results.”

In recent changes at the company, TV format sales were added to the domain of director of production Kylie Washington, who started last September.

The development of new customer relationships and business opportunities comes under chief operating officer Fiona Lang, who leads the newly formed business development team.