UK factual prodco gets MD, expands remit

Zinc Media, the indie group formerly known as Ten Alps, has put Lucy van Beek in charge of its factual prodco Blakeaway.

The company said van Beek will expand Blakeaway’s remit beyond current affairs and historical programming, and move it into the broader world of specialist factual.

Van Beek has been an exec producer for another Zinc prodco, Brook Lapping, since last year, and worked on shows including The Greatest Tomb on Earth for the BBC and China’s Megatomb Revealed for National Geographic.

The Blakeaway role is effective from the start of next month. “I’m hugely excited to be taking on the role of MD of Blakeway,” said van Beek. “Having worked within another subsidiary of Zinc Media for the past 12 months, I can’t wait to take the helm and guide it through the next phase of its expansion and development.”

She will report to Fiona Stourton, creative director at Zinc, who said: “We are delighted that Lucy has accepted the role of managing director of Blakeway. The company already has a fantastic reputation for producing award-winning programmes in current affairs, history and documentaries, and it’s the perfect next step for the company to move into the internationally popular genre of specialist factual.”

Ten Alps rebranded last year, as founder Bob Geldof exited the business and former Channel 4 chairman chairman Luke Johnson came in.

Ten Alps remains the name of the group holding company. Other prodcos in the fold include Films of Record and Reef Television.

Group CEO Mark Wood exited in July, with reps saying there were no “immediate plans” to replace him.