Plimsoll Productions ups Jonathan Jackson to COO, Lucy Bilson to head production

Jonathan Jackson and Lucy Bilson

ITV Studios-owned Plimsoll Productions has promoted Jonathan Jackson to chief operating officer, in addition to his existing role as chief financial officer, and promoted Lucy Bilson to head of production.

Jackson joined Plimsoll four years ago as finance and commercial director, before he was elevated to CFO. Now adding COO to his title, he will oversee the company’s finance, commercial, post-production and legal functions while sitting alongside CEO Grant Mansfield on the Plimsoll/ITV board.

Prior to Plimsoll, Jackson was COO and subsequently managing director at UK distributor DRG, later rebranded as NENT Studios, where he augmented the company’s growth strategies and spearheaded the sales process.

With 25 years of experience in TV, film, digital content, music and live events, Jackson also previously held senior financial roles at BBC Studios and Channel 4.

As head of production, Bilson will supervise Plimsoll’s output and negotiate deals with networks and streamers, including Disney+, National Geographic, Apple TV+ and Discovery.

Bilson first joined Plimsoll as production manager, overseeing the Camp Zambia joint venture between Blue Ant Media and the Smithsonian Channel, before being promoted to production executive in 2015 and deputy head of production in 2020.

Her credits at Plimsoll include Animal (Netflix) and Yellowstone Live! (National Geographic). Prior to Plimsoll, Bilson’s credits include Secrets of the Dead: Cleopatra’s Lost Tomb (PBS) and Gordon Ramsay’s F Word (Channel 4).