Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz is expanding her role to extend across the Comcast-owned media group’s entire U.K. and Ireland content business outside of sports. Her new title will be CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer.
Zai Bennett, MD of content for Sky U.K. and Ireland, will now report to Frot-Coutaz, who joined Sky in 2021 after leadership stints at Fremantle and YouTube.
Bennett previously reported to Stephen van Rooyen, Sky CEO for U.K. and Ireland, who departs the company this month after 17 years in the job. Bennett will remain responsible for output and performance. His role includes overseeing commissions (in factual, entertainment, arts, kids and film), acquisitions across the group and managing the Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids brands.
Frot-Coutaz already looked after Sky’s comedy and drama across Europe as part of her remit. She will now also lead on U.K. and Ireland content as well as Sky News across Europe, with Sky News executive chairman David Rhodes also now reporting to Frot-Coutaz.
MD of Sky Sports Jonathan Licht will continue to report to Sky CEO Dana Strong.
“By bringing Sky’s content teams together into a single structure, we can maximise the benefits of our content business, whilst continuing to invest in original programming across all genres,” said Frot-Coutaz. “I am excited to work even more closely with Zai and the wider teams as we further our investment in British and Irish content.”
Sky Studios’ director of original series Meghan Lyvers and EVP for Sky Studios Italia Nils Hartmann also report to Frot-Coutaz.
The reporting restructure follows reports of “confusion” in Sky’s commissioning hierarchy. Sources at the company are keen to point out that the new shake-up will not have any knock-on effect on projects currently in development or production at either Sky Studios or Sky U.K. and Ireland.
Sky Studios was set up in 2019 by longtime Sky exec Gary Davey. He retired in 2021 and was replaced by Frot-Coutaz.
