Jonathan Hughes leaves All3Media International for ITV Studios role
The sales executive is moving to ITV Studios after a decade at All3Media International, following the company’s merger with Banijay.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Jonathan Hughes is heading to ITV Studios after 10 years at All3Media International, Deadline reported, making him another senior figure to leave the distributor in the wake of All3Media’s merger with Banijay.
Hughes will join ITV Studios as vice president, Germany and Benelux sales. The company has also promoted Louisa Forsyth to vice president, UK and Ireland sales, according to the report.
Both executives will report to Jemma Harvey, ITV Studios’ executive vice president, EMEA and UK sales and distribution.
Merger fallout continues
The move comes shortly after All3Media parent RedBird IMI and Banijay completed their merger earlier this month. Deadline reported that the combination created the world’s largest production studio outside the major U.S. studios and brought together two major program distribution operations.
Banijay management had previously indicated it would seek savings from the distribution unit, according to Deadline. The merged division will operate as Banijay Rights, with Cathy Payne, Banijay’s sales boss, leading it as chief executive.
Hughes’ departure follows the exit of longtime All3Media International CEO Louise Pedersen, which Deadline reported the day after the merger closed. Other senior exits have included All3 chief operating officer Sara Geater and group director of corporate development Steven Brown.
UK trade publication Broadcast reported that Banijay CEO and executive director Patrick Holland is expected to take charge of the UK business, which will include 65 production companies.
Hughes’ All3Media run
At All3Media International, Hughes led sales across German-speaking Europe, France and Benelux, Deadline reported. His slate included titles such as Midsomer Murders, All Creatures Great and Small and Fleabag.
He was also credited in the report with helping grow All3Media’s German co-production activity. Deals tied to Van Der Valk, The Assassin, The Tourist, Boarders and Generation Z were among the projects cited.
Deadline also reported that Hughes oversaw format launches for The Traitors, Race Across the World and Gogglebox.
Before joining All3Media International, Hughes spent eight years as sales manager at Optomen International, the factual specialist. Optomen’s parent company was acquired by All3Media in 2010 for £40 million, or $53.7 million, according to Deadline.
Forsyth steps up at ITV Studios
Forsyth’s promotion moves her into leadership of UK and Ireland sales at ITV Studios. She was previously vice president of global content, scripted, and has been with the company since 2018.
Before ITV Studios, Forsyth worked at Sky, which is now set to acquire ITV Studios parent ITV, Deadline reported.
The changes follow several recent appointments in ITV Studios’ unscripted sales team. Deadline named Zack Wallace as director, unscripted, U.S. and LATAM; Eliana Barbosa as senior sales manager, unscripted, Italy, Iberia and CEE; and Ben Nohr as sales manager, unscripted, France and Germany.
Lucy Pryke has also been promoted from sales executive, Nordics, to sales manager, unscripted, Nordics and Benelux, according to the report.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.