Sky appoints Raw alum for documentaries and factual commissioning

Tom Barry

European pay-TV giant Sky has appointed former Raw exec Tom Barry as commissioning editor in documentaries and factual commissioning.

Taking up his new position in June, Barry will support Poppy Dixon, director of documentaries and factual, in bringing original features and multi-part series to Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime and Sky Nature.

He joins the team behind titles such as Liverpool Narcos, Bruno v Tyson, Shark With Steve Backshall, TINA, Murder In The Valleys and The Return: Life After Isis.

Barry previously spent seven years at UK prodco Raw, including as director of programmes, UK factual, where he executive produced documentaries including Three Identical Strangers, Chris Packham; Asperger’s And Me, Stanley Tucci; Searching For Italy, Eva Longoria; Searching For Mexico and Paddy And Christine McGuinness; Our Family And Autism.

He commented: “I have enviously watched the projects Poppy and her team have commissioned in such a short time from afar and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join such a vibrant team at an exciting time for Sky’s factual slate”.

Dixon added: “ I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tom in his role at Raw and have been impressed with his talent and the rich roster of titles he has overseen. I am delighted to be welcoming him to the factual commissioning team here at Sky.”