BBC Worldwide has announced that Jon Penn, currently CEO Asia Pacific, FremantleMedia Enterprises, is to take up the new role of Managing Director, BBC Worldwide Australasia in April. Penn succeeds former General Manager Tony Iffland and Australasia’s interim General Manager Blair McQuade.

His responsibilities will include ownership of the region’s P&L under BBC Worldwide’s new Balanced Regionalisation plans, which aims to significantly increase revenue in the territory within the next five years. He will report directly to Marcus Arthur, BBC Worldwide’s President of the UK and Australasia, based in London. Interim leader Blair McQuade has been newly appointed as Chief Commercial Officer for Australiasia, a new role supporting Penn, which will see him take responsibility for the commercial activities across the business.

Australia and New Zealand are important markets for BBC Worldwide and both have seen significant growth over the last five years, across five areas of business: channels; sales and distribution; content and production; consumer products; and global brands. BBC Worldwide’s strategic aim to increase its regional focus, which will begin on April 2, will enable the company to maximise growth across all platforms in the local market. 

Penn has P&L and commercial and digital media experience, as well as strong contacts in the Australasian TV, licensing and live entertainment industries. As CEO FremantleMedia Enterprises Asia Pacific in 2009 led the team who has built multi-platform brand franchises out of The X Factor, QI, Grand Designs and Merlin, amongst many marquee TV properties.