Renowned Films hires, restructures senior team as it branches into YA content

London- and LA-based production company Renowned Films has made a trio of executive appointments and restructured its senior team as it branches out into young-adult content for the first time.

Louise Hammersley

Media barrister Louise Hammersley, an advisor to the UK House of Lords and a media strategist for Channel 4, ITN and BBC News, has been appointed as consulting chief operating officer.

The company also hired former Barefaced TV exec Vics Wilson as head of production and veteran YA content exec Jonathan Boseley to oversee the growth of its new YA division.

Hammersley, who will retain her other commitments, will assume oversight of Renowned Films’ ongoing business affairs, operations and infrastructure requirements, in addition to supporting its long-term strategic goals for global expansion.

She will report to the company’s founders, Max Welch, Tim Withers and Duane Jones, and the board of directors.

Wilson, the former head of production at Barefaced TV, will support Renowned Films’ growing slate of series including BBC Three commission The Drop with Grammy-winning judge Miguel and several productions for US networks and streamers.

Vics Wilson

She will also oversee the newly established Renowned Post in London, a fully operational 14-suite Avid offline and HP remote facility. Wilson, who also previously worked at Britespark Films overseeing its UK and US slate, will report to Hammersley and the founders.

Boseley is charged with spearheading the launch of the company’s new division, Renowned Kids.

Boseley, whose previous roles include VP of Disney Channels UK, Nordics and Central Europe and general manager of content and VoD for BT TV, will be tasked with developing age-appropriate shows, podcasts and franchises for ages three to 16.

Boseley will work alongside Renowned head of development Chris Broughall to develop new IP and will oversee all YA content production alongside the company’s head of content Kate Maddigan.

Renowned has offices in London, Manchester and LA and is backed by US studio Critical Content, the production studio behind franchises such as Catfish, Netflix’s Stay Here and E’s Celebrity Gameface with Kevin Hart.

Jonathan Boseley

Six years ago, Channel 4 took an equity stake in the company as part of its £20m (US$27m) Indie Growth Fund. In 2017, Critical Content acquired an undisclosed stake in Renowned as Channel 4 exited the business.

Critical Content’s investment in Renowned Films was part of a strategic partnership intended to augment Critical Content’s international expansion and foothold in the UK market, at the same time as boosting Renowned’s UK and US growth. The partnership saw Critical CEO Tom Forman and exec VP and chief financial officer Christoph Pachler join the board.

Renowned Films said it is this year producing around 50 hours of content for broadcasters and platforms in the UK and US. Its slate includes The Drop (BBC), Rated Awards (Channel 4), Who We Be (Spotify), Deep Water (TWG), Backyard Envy (Bravo), Copwatch America (BET), The Cut LA (Red Bull), The Cut London (Red Bull), The Modern Game, featuring David Beckham, Neymar Jr and Leo Messi, Generation Grime (Sky) and Peng Life (Channel 4).