The commercial arm of the BBC Group, BBC Studios has appointed Susannah Clark as Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, a newly created role by the company.
Clark, who also joins the Executive Committee, will begin in August, reporting to CEO Tom Fussell.
Susannah joins BBC Studios from global luxury fashion platform Farfetch, where she was Executive Vice President of Communications for seven years. Previously, she headed up communications globally for King Digital Entertainment, owners of the wildly successful Candy Crush game franchise; and at MoneySuperMarket.com.
BBC Studios is a world-renowned global content studio that produces, amplifies and distributes award-winning IP as well as operating a thriving media & streaming business. Whilst remaining the BBC’s biggest supplier of programming with hits such as Planet Earth III, Strictly Come Dancing and Happy Valley 3, 80% of BBC Studios revenue now comes from non-BBC customers, with titles such as the Prehistoric Planet series for Apple, Doctor Who and Bluey for Disney+, Einstein and the Bomb for Netflix and Good Omens for Amazon Prime. In the last five years the business has doubled revenues and profits to record-level revenues in 2022/23 of £2.1bn and profits of £240m.
Tom Fussell, BBC Studios CEO, said: “The creation of the CCMO role and the recruitment of Susannah reflects our determination to rapidly grow our business. BBC Studios has a target of doubling our 2022 business by 2028, so we need senior executives with significant commercial experience on the global stage on board. Susannah has the necessary energy, mindset and determination to help us get to where we want to be.”
“Articulating BBC Studios’ offer to all our stakeholders has never been more important. Susannah’s storytelling skills, her fresh perspective and strong personal values make her a perfect fit for us, culturally and commercially. I have no doubt she will be a major asset to us and I look forward to working closely with her.”
Susannah Clark said: “I am very pleased to be joining BBC Studios at this moment in its development. Creating and nurturing award-winning content is vital to growing this business, as it establishes deep and lasting partnerships which will allow us to effectively monetise it.”
“As CCMO, I will be responsible for executing a communications and marketing strategy that will allow BBC Studios to effectively engage with all its stakeholders, internal and external. Raising the profile of the company’s outstanding content, which entertains and informs people all around the world, will be key to hitting our targets. At the same time, we will leverage our incredible heritage, with a marketing strategy that aligns with the BBC Masterbrand and with the wider BBC Group.”
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