BBC Studios hires Channel 4 acquisitions & int’l chief Nick Lee, replacing Caroline Stone

Nick Lee

BBC Studios (BBCS) has hired Channel 4’s acquisitions & international chief Nick Lee as commercial director of drama and comedy, following the exit of Caroline Stone.

Lee will work on BBCS shows including Time, Sherwood, Am I Being Unreasonable and Black Ops, reporting into Saul Venit, COO at BBCS Scripted Productions.

He will be responsible for developing the commercial strategy for BBCS’s portfolio, leading on partnership deals, driving new business and setting strategy for commercial across drama and comedy. A start date has not yet been set.

He replaces Stone, who was promoted late last year to become commercial director of scripted at BBCS but who has now exited the company.

Lee worked for ITV and the BBC before joining C4 in 2013, taking up his most recent head of acquisitions & international role in 2021.

He has been behind deals that brought Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Fargo to the UK, and also led the broadcaster’s True Crime on 4 initiative.

Mark Linsey, president of BBCS’s scripted productions unit, said: “He has a proven track record as an astute deal maker and this combined with his passion for drama and comedy is going to make him a fantastic addition to the team.”

Lee added he would “relish the chance to help shape the creative strategy of BBC Studios and work with its stellar portfolio of scripted producers.”