BBC Worldwide poaches RDF kids exec

Henrietta Hurford-Jones has left UK producer and distributor RDF to join BBC Worldwide as director of CBeebies Investment.

Jones, who will report to senior VP, programming and TV channels David Weiland, will manage the global investment process for all of the company’s programming.  At RDF she was director, international kids & family.

The move comes as BBC Worldwide ramps up the amount of locally produced content available on the six international feeds of its kids channels CBeebies. It also follows the launch of the international network’s first original commission, Penelope K, By The Way, which was produced by Australian indie Blink Films in association with Freehand, the Australian producer that is 37.5% owned by Worldwide.

Before RDF, Hurford-Jones was director of programming at Disney-owned kids channel Jetix Europe and programming consultant at Hit Entertainment and Chello-backed JimJam.

David Weiland said, “Henrietta’s unique combination of editorial and sales expertise in this core market will be invaluable as we build on the progress we’ve made so rolling out the CBeebies brand.”