Alex Graham steps down from Voice UK maker Wall to Wall

Alex Graham is stepping down from his role as CEO of Wall to Wall 26 years after he founded the UK producer.

Wall to Wall’s creative director Leanne Klein will replace him as chief exec at the prodco, which created the Who Do You Think You Are? format and produces the UK version of John de Mol’s The Voice.

Graham founded the company in 1987 but sold the company to UK powerhouse Shed Media for £25 million (US$51.6 million), becoming a key shareholder in that business upon completion of the deal. Warner Bros. then acquired a majority shareholding in Shed three years later in a concerted push to build its global production footprint.

Though Graham is standing down as CEO, he will retain a position at the company while a handover process takes place. He will remain as exec producer on the US verison of WDYTYR?, the BBC genealogy series he created. That version of the show originally ran on NBC before cancellation last year and is now broadcasting on cable channel TLC, which has commissioned a 10-epsiode fifth season for next year.

Shed Media CEO Nick Southgate thanked Graham for his service and welcomed Klein, who has been with Wall to Wall since 1995, into the top job, claiming she has the company “running through her veins”.

“Alex is one of the titans of the independent production sector, but I can’t think of anyone better to fill his large shoes. I’m extremely glad that he will remain as an EP on the US version of Who Do You Think You Are?, so the company can continue to benefit from his advice and experience.”

I’ve had the privilege of working with Leanne for almost 20 years,” said Graham. “She’s the most creative television executive I know and the perfect person to build on the company’s reputation for quality, integrity and originality.”

“On a personal level, I’ll miss Alex hugely,” added Klein. “It’s been a privilege to work with him for almost 20 years and he’s built a fantastic business which keeps creativity at its heart – something I’ll do my very best to maintain.”

Klein has been creative director since 2011.