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C4 fund adds BBC, Discovery execs

UK pubcaster Channel 4 has appointed a former BBC Studios (BBCS) executive and the ex-president of global content at Discovery Communications to work across its Indie Growth Fund.

Tracy Forsyth

Tracy Forsyth, who left BBCS last year having been genre director for factual entertainment and formats, and Discovery alum Marjorie Kaplan will become creative mentors at the fund.

They will work with the Indie Growth Fund Advisory Board and existing creative mentor, Lorraine Heggessey, to help the production companies supported by the fund develop their ideas and scale their businesses.

Forsyth, who became producer of the Women in Film and Television mentoring scheme last year, has previously worked on shows including Dancing with the Stars and Top Gear while at BBCS and before that had worked for UKTV, while Kaplan’s previous roles include working across Discovery Kids’ output.

DNI’s Marjorie Kaplan

Jonathan Allan, C4’s chief commercial officer who oversees the Indie Growth Fund, said the duo would “bring high-profile and global industry experience” and offer “advice and knowledge that will be invaluable to the production companies we invest in and help to grow.”

The Indie Growth Fund was launched in 2014 to provide additional support to the UK independent creative sector by providing access to funding for production companies in the UK to help them to grow and develop their business.

It has investments in companies including Barcroft Media Group, Eleven Films, Firecrest Productions, Lightbox Entertainment, Parable, Spelthorne Community Television, The RightsXchange (TRX), Voltage TV Productions and Whisper Films. Former chief Laura Franses exited in 2017.

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