Maria Ibarra joins Blue Ant Int’l in VP role as focus on Latin business grows

MIPCOM: Blue Ant International, the global sales arm of Canada-based media company Blue Ant Media, has named Maria Ibarra as VP of international sales as it looks to make further inroads with its Latin partners.

Maria Ibarra

Miami-based Ibarra will be responsible for overseeing pre-sales and content licensing across US Hispanic, Latin America and Iberia, reporting to Solange Attwood, executive VP of Blue Ant International. The announcement was made on the first day of Mipcom in Cannes.

A veteran in format licensing, coproductions and pre-buys in Latin America and Canada, Ibarra comes to Blue Ant International with 20 years of experience in TV distribution, programming, production and business development.

She previously held multiple roles at Viacom International Media Networks, most recently as director of international programme sales for Latin America and Canada, responsible for multiplatform deals including SVoD, pay TV, free TV, coproductions, pre-buys and format sales.

Ibarra started her career in production before becoming a distribution executive. She joined MTV Networks Latin America in 2006 as unit production manager for production management and worked on live-to-tape shows such as Los Premios MTV and Ricky Martin Unplugged.

Blue Ant International also made a pair of promotions. Nick Solowski was upped to senior director, international sales and acquisitions, overseeing pre-sales and licensing across Canada, Asia-Pacific and ancillary rights and Fleur Wheatley was promoted to director, international sales and acquisitions, overseeing Benelux, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Africa, Greece and Israel.

“Maria brings an impressive track record in international distribution, strategic partnerships and strong relationships which will be invaluable for growing our reach in those markets,” said Solange Attwood, executive VP at Blue Ant International.