Keshet taps Vertigo for UK drama chief

Keshet UK has appointed Howard Burch as its first head of drama.

He comes across to the British arm of Israel’s Keshet International from UK-based Vertigo Films, where he was head of television.

In the new post at Keshet, he will work alongside executive producer and head of coproductions Sara Johnson and Andrea Michell, who is development producer, scripted.

Burch began his career at UK broadcaster Channel 4 before being named head of drama development at Kudos in 1999. He worked at the Spooks prodco until 2010, and joined Vertigo in 2012.

“The idea was to build on the great work of Sara and Andrea over the past three years and expand our in house production capability,” said Keshet UK managing director Sammy Nourmand. “We are delighted the opportunity to work with a producer of Howard’s calibre presented itself to us and look forward to welcoming him to the Keshet family.”

Keshet UK is currently shooting the British version of Israeli drama format The A Word, which will air on BBC One later this year, and will also created another, Loaded, for the Channel 4.

Burch’s previous company, Vertigo, is best known as a film producer and distributor, but has also worked in television.