Granada Content exec structure takes shape

Simon Shaps, md of Granada Content, has announced a reorganisation of the division that sees new responsibilities for his senior management team.

The reorganisation sees Granada Content getting two directors of programmes to manage significant amounts of the company’s programming portfolio, as well as the creation of Granada Screen – a new unit to grow Granada’s fiction business, including film, with international partners.

Andrea Wonfor has been appointed creative director of Granada Content with special responsibility for formats, children’s, international drama and talent. She also becomes director of Granada Screen.

John Willis has been appointed md of worldwide production at Granada Content. He will continue to maintain strong links with production across all Granada companies in the UK and will have special responsibility for managing and developing Granada’s international production activities. He also becomes chairman of Granada Screen.

Marcus Plantin has been appointed director of entertainment, leading an integrated domestic and international entertainment genre business. He will be responsible for all entertainment production across the content division’s regional sites – London, Manchester, Leeds, Southampton, Newcastle and Norwich.

Grant Mansfield widens his brief to become director of programmes at Granada Content (South), with responsibility for all factual and daytime programming and the two drama departments run by Andy Harries (Granada Television) and Michele Buck (LWT/United).

John Whiston expands his brief as director of programmes at Granada Content (North) to include Coronation Street. This is in addition to his existing responsibility for Emmerdale and all other Yorkshire Television drama, which includes Heartbeat, A Touch of Frost, At Home With The Braithwaites, Fat Friends and Uncle Silas.

Whiston will also have responsibility for arts across Granada, with Melvyn Bragg continuing in the role of controller, as well as a features department which makes a raft of programmes for ITV and Channel 4.

John Cresswell becomes Granada Content’s coo; commercial director Chris Pye continues his responsibilities for international distribution and international production strategy; and Max Graesser is the new coo, Granada Broadband.