Louise Pedersen exiting All3Media for Callender’s Playground

All3Media is looking for a new international boss after Louise Pedersen’s decision to leave the company and join Playground Entertainment, the prodco run by former HBO Films boss Colin Callender.

As managing director, UK, Pedersen will run a new London office for Playground, which will open early next year. The UK office will be base for UK-specific programming as well as Playground’s slate of international copros.

Pedersen has been at All3Media International since its inception 11 years ago and will remain with the distributor into the new year to help with the handover to her successor.

That executive has not yet been appointed, but All3Media managing director Jane Turton is leading the search for a new international boss.

Pedersen said today: “It has been a real pleasure to grow this company but the time is right for me to fulfill a personal ambition by taking on a new challenge joining Playground Entertainment to oversee UK production operations.”

Turton added: “Working with Louise has been the most enormous privilege. Her combination of commercial flair and passion for television has led the company from strength to strength.”

Playground was formed in 2012 and is making high-end US-UK drama. Pedersen has worked with the prodco on upcoming BBC and Starz drama The Missing, which is a copro between Playground and All3Media-backed New Pictures.

Pedersen will report directly to Callender. “Louise will be an invaluable strategic addition to the Playground team,” he said. “She has a masterful understanding of the changing television landscape in Britain and around the world and has worked with some of the best drama producers in the UK.”

The Playground UK new recruit added: “The role will allow me to broaden my production expertise and to combine two areas that I love; television drama and growing a business. Colin and I have known each other over the years and I haveenormous respect for his track record in UK and US drama.”

Prior to All3Media, Pedersen was director of international sales for ITV.