BBC Studios confirms interim chief Tom Fussell as permanent CEO

BBC Studios (BBCS), the UK pubcaster’s commercial production and distribution arm, has appointed interim CEO Tom Fussell to the role on a permanent basis.

Tom Fussell

Fussell has held the post since September 2020, overseeing BBCS’s strategy and performance alongside its response to Covid-19.

As permanent CEO, Fussell will be responsible for leading the development and delivery of the company’s global expansion plans, as well as continuing to deepen employee engagement and wellbeing, putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of BBCS and embedding sustainability throughout the company. He will now join the BBC’s executive committee.

Fussell joined BBCS’s predecessor, BBC Worldwide, as chief financial officer in 2016 before taking on the same role at BBCS in 2018 and later adding property and technology to his brief. He previously held a range of financial roles at BBC Production and BBC Group Finance between 1997 and 2007. He currently serves on the BBC Commercial Holdings board and is also chair of BBC StudioWorks.

Outside of the BBC, Fussell was CFO of Shine Group from 2013 to 2015, remaining to complete the production company’s merger with Endemol. He held a variety of commercial director roles at Harper Collins UK and was also finance director at fellow publisher Random House in the UK.

Tim Davie, the BBC’s irector-general, said: “In the last year, Tom has proven himself an outstanding leader for BBC Studios, steering the company through its most difficult times with both conviction and compassion, and delivering strong results.

“We share immense ambition for the business: making bold and brilliant content for audiences everywhere and taking world-class British programmes and journalism to the world in new ways. I’m delighted that Tom will be leading the BBC Studios team to achieve this vision.”