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Sarah Doole to lead StudioCanal’s Red

French scripted producer and distributor StudioCanal has hired Sarah Doole from Fremantle to lead and expand its UK-based prodco Red Production Company.

Sarah Doole

Doole is taking over the CEO position from Red Production Company founder Nicola Shindler, who is launching a new scripted shingle with ITV Studios at the end of the year.

Doole will join the Manchester-based firm on October 5 and will oversee its development and production slate in the UK, working with StudioCanal management to drive its domestic and international growth.

She will also be tasked with expanding Red’s roster of creative talent to deliver new projects and with fostering further collaboration within the StudioCanal group.

Doole joins Red from Fremantle, where she had been director of global drama since 2013. During her tenure, she oversaw a portfolio of high-end international scripted projects, including the Deutschland trilogy, The Young Pope, My Brilliant Friend, Beecham House, Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Salisbury Poisonings.

Prior to Fremantle, Doole was creative director of drama and head of indie drama at BBC Worldwide (now BBC Studios), where her roster of award-winning shows included Sherlock, Gavin & Stacey, Call the Midwife, Misfits and Life on Mars.

She began her career at Yorkshire Television, working on a slate of documentaries, peak-time entertainment series and kids’ programming, including Yorkshire Television’s first youth series, Intoview, and ground-breaking documentaries such as China Rising and Red Empire.

In August, Doole announced the launch of Sow the Seed, an incubator company focusing on new talent and underrepresented voices across drama, comedy, entertainment and documentaries, through TV, podcast, music, literature and art and fashion. She is currently in advanced talks with Red’s owner to bring the new company into the StudioCanal fold to be an incubation hub for diverse voices across Europe.

Anna Marsh, CEO of StudioCanal, said: “Sarah’s creative drive and exceptional scripted experience make her the perfect choice for this significant role. We have big ambitions for Red and we know Sarah will help the company step up to the next level to become an even stronger international player.”

Doole added: “As a proud Northerner, I am extremely keen to protect Red’s strong heritage. I’m so looking forward to working with the Red team and, with the support of StudioCanal, to creating a wide range of new, diverse and inclusive storytelling to sit under the big Red umbrella.”

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