Please wait...
Please wait...

BBC Studios taps ex-Paramount Global exec Lawrence Szabo to lead US distribution

BBC Studios has named former Paramount Global executive Lawrence Szabo as its exec VP of US content distribution.

Lawrence Szabo

Based out of the company’s LA office, Szabo will lead a licensing team working across both scripted and unscripted programming, as well as leading coproductions and content acquisition deals in the US.

He will report to Janet Brown, BBC Studios’ president of content distribution for North America and Latin America.

In addition to licensing, coproductions and acquisitions, BBC Studios said Szabo will play a key role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and driving growth within its content licensing division.

Szabo was previously the senior executive of programme acquisitions at Paramount Global, where he worked across linear and streaming brands including Paramount+, Pluto TV, Showtime Networks, BET, MTVE Networks and Nickelodeon.

Before joining Paramount Global in 2020, he was executive VP of North American TVoD/SVoD sales at Lionsgate. He spent nine years with Lionsgate and before that nearly two decades with MGM, where he was part of the EMEA distribution team.

BBC Studios, which is the commercial arm of the UK public broadcaster, is structured around four main business units: a global content studio (production, investment and international distribution); a channels and streaming platforms business; brands and licensing; and its UK-based multichannel network UKTV.

“Lawrence comes to us with a proven track record on both sides of the table, and across a range of genres,” said Brown.

“His passion for great content, thoughtful sales strategies and deep respect for buyers has earned him an incredible network of relationships across the industry.”

Please wait...