BBC Studios and ITV have promoted Reemah Sakaan to CEO of BritBox International, charged with steering the roll out of the streaming service in up to 25 countries worldwide.
Sakaan currently holds a dual role as group director of ITV SVoD (subscription video-on-demand), in which she was responsible for the UK launch of BritBox, and chief brand and creative officer at BritBox Global.
She will begin her new role in April this year, leading an international management team including Moira Hogan, country manager for Australia, and Emily Powers, EVP and head of BritBox North America, alongside a team of approximately 100 content, customer management and business professionals.
“The role attracted a very impressive field of external candidates which reflects the strength and appeal of the BritBox brand,” commented Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV.
“Reemah was deservedly successful and I am really pleased that she will lead BritBox internationally. BritBox is now firmly established as a global premium brand in a rapidly growing sector.”
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, added: “This is an important moment for Britbox and its ambitions to become a truly global brand.
“We know international audiences are turning to the service for great British television and with Reemah heading up the next phase of growth I am confident we will see further success.”
The ad-free SVoD service first launched in North America in March 2017, and announced it had surpassed 1.5 million subscribers in October 2020. In the UK, BritBox launched in November 2019, followed by Australia in November 2020.
Earlier this month it was announced that South African audiences will be the next to receive access to BritBox, with the service set to launch in the second half of 2021.
BritBox is now looking to broaden its global footprint across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa with its offering of British TV boxsets.
Commenting on her new role, Sakaan said: “I am thrilled to be charged with leading BritBox International and its team on behalf of the BBC and ITV.
“It’s been fantastic to have been part of the Britbox journey so far. I can’t wait for our next exciting phase of growth in existing markets and to put BritBox and the best of British creativity on the map in many more.”
Internationally, BritBox operates as a 50/50 joint venture between BBC Studios and ITV.
