BBCS exec Damon Pattison heads to Seven Studios UK

BBC Studios’ head of entertainment (North) Damon Pattison is to depart the pubcaster and oversee the UK-based production arm of Australia’s Seven Studios.

At the BBC Pattison was charged with leading the BBC’s strategy for entertainment outside London and was based across Salford and Glasgow. Prior to his promotion in November 2017, Pattison acted as head of development BBCS.

Pattison will now lead the launch of Seven Studios UK. The studio will add to previous international investments by Seven West Media, which also acquired a stake in Slim Film & Television in 2016 as it looked to expand its footprint.

Seven West Media also entered a range of joint ventures with 7Wonder in the UK and 7Beyond in the US.

Tim Worner, Seven West’s CEO, said: “At Seven Studios UK, [Pattison] will have the benefit of an IP flow from our entire group’s creative output, which is already finding a growing global audience.”

Seven Studios titles include My Kitchen Rules, A Place to Call Home and Manhunt.