BBC Studios Names Mediawan’s Sally Habbershaw President Of Global Distribution

Sally Habbershaw is exiting Mediawan after less than a year to become President of Global Distribution at the BBC’s commercial arm.

Her London-based role, which is described as “newly expanded” will see her overseeing BBCS’s worldwide content sales business, reporting into Zai Bennett, BBC Studios Global Content CEO and Chief Creative Officer.

BBC Studios has been without a sales boss for most of the year, as the U.S.-based Janet Brown exited in January as part of a plan to move distribution closer to the mothership in the UK. Habbershaw takes up the post on September 28.

“Sally is one of the most accomplished and respected executives in the business and her experience across content investment, distribution, platforms and production makes her uniquely positioned to lead our global content distribution operation,” said Bennett.

“She brings a rare combination of commercial leadership, creative instincts and deep global market expertise, alongside an exceptional track record of building partnerships and delivering growth across some of the industry’s most successful content businesses. I look forward to working with her as we continue to maximise the value and reach of our outstanding content portfolio.”

Habbershaw was the subject of news this time last year in the run up to MIPCOM Cannes, when she replaced Valerie Vleeschhouwer at France’s Mediawan. She was named Chief Distribution Officer at the Adolescence producer.

“After twenty years in the US and, more recently, in France, coming home to do this work here matters to me,” said Habbershaw. “The content and the brand speak for themselves. What made the opportunity irresistible is the moment and the people.

“Zai has built a leadership team that is ambitious, thinks differently and is set on making a real impact. I’ve spent my career on the other side of the table from the BBC, so I arrive with a clear view of its strengths and of the work ahead.”

Today’s news comes after Deadline revealed last year that Habbershaw was exiting her New York-based role as Americas sales chief at All3Media International to move back to the UK. That triggered the promotion of Jennifer Askin to EVP, Americas at The Traitors distributor All3Media International, which has since been subsumed into Banijay Rights, following the merger of Banijay Entertainment and All3Media.

Fair to say it’s been a period of change for the distribution business as a whole.