BBC Studios executive Nick Lee named head of acquisitions at BBC

UK pubcaster the BBC has named BBC Studios exec Nick Lee as its head of acquisitions, with incumbent Sue Deeks transitioning to an alternate role.

Nick Lee

Lee will lead the team responsible for acquiring TV series and feature films for BBC iPlayer and the pubcaster’s linear channels.

He joins the BBC content division from the Beeb’s commercial and production arm, BBC Studios, where he was commercial director of scripted. Before that, Lee was head of acquisitions and international at Channel 4, where he secured titles like The Handmaid’s Tale, Fargo and The Great.

The BBC’s recent acquired hits include Killing Eve, King & Conqueror, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, The Bridge, Colin From Accounts and The Americas.

Deeks will remain in the post until Lee starts in November, at which point she will take on a new three-day-per-week role as head of pre-buy acquisitions.

Dan McGolpin, director of iPlayer and channels at the BBC, said: “Nick is a highly experienced dealmaker with a keen eye for spotting compelling TV from around the world, and I’m really excited that we’ll be getting the benefit of his great energy and know-how in leading the programme acquisition team.”

Lee added: “This feels like a vocational calling for me. To be acquiring for the BBC, shaping the market with this team and working with the inimitable Sue Deeks is completely exhilarating.”