BBCS names global distribution CEO, Paul Dempsey takes performance role

Rebecca Glashow

BBC Studios (BBCS) has rejigged its sales operations, with long-standing global distribution president Paul Dempsey stepping down to take up a new role and Americas chief Rebecca Glashow taking up his remit.

Glashow will become CEO of global distribution at BBCS on 1 March and will take on “expanded responsibilities” for BBCS’s global distribution portfolio outside the UK & Ireland, including content sales, direct to consumer services, international channels and co-productions.

The former co-head of ViacomCBS-owned Awesomeness will also retain her responsibility for BBCS’s digital global news, which was added to her remit in September.

Glashow joined BBCS as its Americas president in June 2020, where she was responsible for the launch of documentary streaming service BBC Select and BBC Podcasts.

Paul Dempsey

She said there are “great opportunities for further commercial growth and building new audiences for our world class content.”

Dempsey’s performance move

Dempsey, meanwhile, is stepping down from his role atop of global distribution after almost a decade in the job to take the newly created position of director of performance at BBCS.

TBI understands his remit includes working across the company to oversee both individual and teams, reporting into BBCS HR boss Jabbar Sardar.

During Dempsey’s tenure leading BBCS, the organisation said content sales had risen by 50% while investment in content had more than doubled. He also worked across the growth of streamer BritBox, co-owned with ITV Studios, and expanded into markets including China and India.

The rejig is the latest major exec change for BBCS in recent weeks. At the start of the month, the UK public broadcaster’s commercial arm combined its Productions and Content Partnerships businesses, with former Channel 4 exec Ralph Lee taking on an expanded role across divisions.

That reorg was focused on ensuring investment decisions are made with “a single strategic view” across BBCS’s production interests and indies that it handles content sales for.

Tom Fussell

It is four months since Tom Fussell was named permanent CEO at BBCS, following a lengthy search for a replacement for Tim Davie, who now heads up the UK pubcaster.

Fussell added: “Rebecca’s promotion reflects her successful leadership style and thoughtful strategic approach which has grown and expanded the BBC Studios Americas’ portfolio of diverse businesses. I am delighted she will spearhead our next phase of growth across our Global Distribution division.”

Dempsey said: “It has been a long held ambition of mine to move into a role specialising in individual and team performance. As our company embarks on the next stage of its growth story, I can’t think of a more exciting or relevant time to be moving into this new area.”

Fussell added: “I’m pleased that Paul will be passing the baton to Rebecca with the business in such good health. I’d like to pay tribute to his many commercial successes. I am thrilled that Paul will be our Director of Performance, showing our commitment to supporting world-class performance at a time of major growth opportunity for the company. We are fortunate to have someone of Paul’s talents leading this for the whole of BBC Studios.”