Helen Jackson, BBC Worldwide’s Chief Content Officer announced on June 19 two promotions within her senior management team with the creation of two Genre Director posts.

The move supports the business’ ambition to place more premium content at the heart of BBC Worldwide, backed by an increase in content spend to over £200 million annually.

Tracy Forsyth, previously VP for Commissioning, has been promoted to Genre Director of Factual Entertainment and Entertainment overseeing programme relationships across Tumble, Top Gear, Dancing with the Stars and The Great British Bake Off. Mark Reynolds, formerly Commercial Director for Factual, has been made Genre Director for Factual looking after a portfolio of titles including David Beckham Into The Unknown, Hidden Kingdoms, Brian Cox’s Human Universe and 37 Days.

In addition to establishing creative partnerships, content acquisitions, co-production and content strategy for their genres Forsyth and Reynolds will also be responsible for the development of and commissioning ideas for BBC Worldwide’s TV Sales, Channels and Digital businesses. BBC Worldwide is also in the process of introducing BBC First, BBC Brit and BBC Earth on a market-by-market basis to its portfolio of branded channels and services around the world. These new roles will see Forsyth overseeing BBC Worldwide’s content investment strategy in factual entertainment and entertainment as well as overseeing commissioning for BBC Brit. Reynolds will take charge of natural history, science, history, documentaries, current affairs, BBC Earth Productions and commissioning for the new BBC Earth-branded channel.

Jackson commented: “I am delighted to announce Tracy and Mark’s promotions to Genre Director where their expertise will benefit the breadth of our business. The creation and financing of premium content fuels all that we do from driving international television sales to bringing our new global genre brands to life, having a genre focus will be invaluable to ensuring BBC Worldwide content stands out across the board.”

In her former role at BBC Worldwide, Forsyth was responsible for commissioning series including Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook series 1 & 2, Best In Town, Million Dollar Intern, Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill and Factomania, as well as leading strategy for original production for BBC Worldwide Channels. Reynolds was previously responsible for the content development and acquisition strategy in the Factual genre, securing content from BBC Television, UK and overseas independent producers and BBC Worldwide Productions. In creating long-lasting relationships with producers, his international successes include Brazil with Michael Palin, Earthflight, The Story of the Jews and Targeting Bin Laden.

This new structure complements the arrival of George Dixon to BBC Worldwide back in April, who was announced as the company’s new Global Editorial Director, and Liam Keelan’s appointment as Director of Scripted with responsibility for BBC Worldwide’s Drama, Comedy, Music and Children’s genres.

Helen Jackson, BBC Worldwide’s Chief Content Officer announced on June 19 two promotions within her senior management team with the creation of two Genre Director posts.

The move supports the business’ ambition to place more premium content at the heart of BBC Worldwide, backed by an increase in content spend to over £200 million annually.

Tracy Forsyth, previously VP for Commissioning, has been promoted to Genre Director of Factual Entertainment and Entertainment overseeing programme relationships across Tumble, Top Gear, Dancing with the Stars and The Great British Bake Off. Mark Reynolds, formerly Commercial Director for Factual, has been made Genre Director for Factual looking after a portfolio of titles including David Beckham Into The Unknown, Hidden Kingdoms, Brian Cox’s Human Universe and 37 Days.

In addition to establishing creative partnerships, content acquisitions, co-production and content strategy for their genres Forsyth and Reynolds will also be responsible for the development of and commissioning ideas for BBC Worldwide’s TV Sales, Channels and Digital businesses. BBC Worldwide is also in the process of introducing BBC First, BBC Brit and BBC Earth on a market-by-market basis to its portfolio of branded channels and services around the world. These new roles will see Forsyth overseeing BBC Worldwide’s content investment strategy in factual entertainment and entertainment as well as overseeing commissioning for BBC Brit. Reynolds will take charge of natural history, science, history, documentaries, current affairs, BBC Earth Productions and commissioning for the new BBC Earth-branded channel.

Jackson commented: “I am delighted to announce Tracy and Mark’s promotions to Genre Director where their expertise will benefit the breadth of our business. The creation and financing of premium content fuels all that we do from driving international television sales to bringing our new global genre brands to life, having a genre focus will be invaluable to ensuring BBC Worldwide content stands out across the board.”

In her former role at BBC Worldwide, Forsyth was responsible for commissioning series including Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook series 1 & 2, Best In Town, Million Dollar Intern, Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill and Factomania, as well as leading strategy for original production for BBC Worldwide Channels. Reynolds was previously responsible for the content development and acquisition strategy in the Factual genre, securing content from BBC Television, UK and overseas independent producers and BBC Worldwide Productions. In creating long-lasting relationships with producers, his international successes include Brazil with Michael Palin, Earthflight, The Story of the Jews and Targeting Bin Laden.

This new structure complements the arrival of George Dixon to BBC Worldwide back in April, who was announced as the company’s new Global Editorial Director, and Liam Keelan’s appointment as Director of Scripted with responsibility for BBC Worldwide’s Drama, Comedy, Music and Children’s genres.