BBC Studios appoints commercial directors for branded services
Details
Louise Duffy
| 21 August 2019

BBC Studios has appointed Pierre Cloete and Zbigniew Pruski as commercial directors for branded services, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe respectively.

Both will report to Louise La Grange, SVP branded services commercial, and will be responsible for delivering branded services revenue and profit across Sub-Saharan Africa, and CEE, in line with targets and growth ambitions and through expert client management and new business development.

Based in Johannesburg, Cloete will take up his new position from 1 September. He has extensive experience in the TV industry and joins BBC Studios from Kwesé General Entertainment, where he was MD and responsible for the launch of its pay-TV service. Most recently he served as head of Kwesé Sports Digital Content and acting CEO for Kwesé Sports.

As commercial director Branded Services, Central and Eastern Europe, Pruski will be based in Warsaw. He takes up the new position for the region after a successful tenure as head of affiliate sales for BBC Studios in Poland, where he was responsible for developing strategic distribution initiatives for the BBC channel portfolio. Zbigniew joined BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide) in 2011 from Discovery Networks Central Europe, where he was affiliate sales administration executive.

Commenting on the new appointment, La Grange said: “The appointments of commercial directors for Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Eastern Europe signals our ongoing commitment to the African and CEE markets and a continued local presence on the ground. Pierre and Zbigniew have proven track records in the industry and I am confident that their local insight, expertise and great relationships will give us the focus, consistency and effectiveness we need to put us in the best position to achieve our ambitions for growth.”

Cloete added: “I am delighted to join BBC Studios as commercial director for Branded Services across Sub-Saharan Africa. The quality of the BBC channels and its content is first class, and it is an honour to join the BBC Studios team. Africa is filled with amazing people that enjoy great stories and love quality content. The potential is ever increasing in Africa as more stories are being told and consumed, and I look forward to adding value to the BBC Studios team.”

Pruski remarked: “I’m thrilled to be taking the additional responsibility for leading branded services commercial activities across CEE in this new role. I’m looking forward to continue the development of our business in both regions and the new exciting opportunities this may bring.”