Lou Black promoted as ITV Studios-owned Studio 55 makes senior hires

ITV Studios (ITVS) executive Lou Black has been promoted to global senior VP, brand and commercial partnerships, at Studio 55 as the fledgling global brand partnership outfit expands its team with a trio of senior appointments from companies including TikTok.

Lou Black

Black has been upped from her previous position as senior VP of brand licensing. In her expanded role, she will drive global growth across “brand licensing and brand solutions,” ITVS said.

Since joining ITVS in 2024, Black has restructured and evolved the brand licensing business to deliver commercial growth while also strengthening Studio 55’s creative capabilities and brand governance across the ITVS portfolio.

Amy Johal, meanwhile, joins Studio 55 as VP, creator partnerships.She will lead on global creator partnerships and production strategy, expanding how the business collaborates with partners and brands.

Amy Johal

Johal arrives from TikTok, where she led entertainment partnerships, helping to grow TikTok’s entertainment ecosystem through strategic creator partnerships with studios and broadcasters.

She has extensive experience in creator partnerships and digital production, bringing expertise in developing strategic collaborations between creators, brands and production partners.

Remy Kirk has been appointed VP, brand solutions. She is tasked with unlocking growth with media agencies globally, as well as establishing and scaling strategic relationships with brand partners and advertisers.

Kirk joins from Warner Bros Discovery, where she served as senior director, client and strategy. Prior to that, she held a senior commercial leadership role at Bauer Media.

Remy Kirk

Finally, John Taite has been appointed VP, brand partnerships, North America. He will lead Studio 55’s US business, developing and executing brand partnerships strategy across the region.

Taite previously established BBC America’s branded content and partnerships business and played a key role in the launch of BBC Studios in North America. Most recently, he was executive VP, global brand partnerships and development, at Made Music Studio, following senior leadership roles at MTV, AMC Networks and BBC Studios.

ITVS launched Studio 55 at the London TV Screenings in February. The studio sits within ITVS’s global partnerships division and is led by Will Scougal, executive VP of brand and commercial partnerships.

John Taite

Studio 55 offers brands, marketing agencies and content creators access to the distributor’s portfolio of IP.

Scougal said: “Lou’s an excellent commercial and creative leader. Her expanded remit, along with the hires of three hugely talented VPs in Amy, Remy and John, brings more focus to the growth and creative ambition of Studio 55 and opens up even more opportunities for our partners.”