Rebecca Glashow Named BBC Studios Global Distribution CEO

BBC Studios today promoted Rebecca Glashow to the newly created role of chief executive officer, global distribution. She will take up the position on March 1 and becomes a member of BBC Studio’s executive committee on the same date.

Glashow has been president, BBC Studios Americas since June 2020, overseeing the strategy and performance of the company’s commercial activities in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. In this role she was responsible for the launch of documentary streaming service BBC Select and BBC Podcasts, and last September oversight of global digital news was added to her responsibilities.

Under Glashow, BBC Studios Americas has expanded its relationships with partners, strengthening its portfolio, launching OTT and subscription services, embedding a new leadership team and cementing its place as a leading distributor of premium content to major networks and streaming platforms, in the last year licensing over 1,500 hours of programming including such noted series as I May Destroy You, Small Axe, The Green Planet and hit kids show Bluey.

In her new role, Glashow takes expanded responsibilities for BBC Studios’ global distribution portfolio (ex-U.K. & Ireland), encompassing content sales, direct to consumer services, international channels, co-productions as well as continued responsibility for the growth of BBC’s digital global news.

Glashow said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role. I’m hugely passionate about the BBC and see great opportunities for further commercial growth and building new audiences for our world class content.”

Tom Fussell, CEO of BBC Studios, said: “Rebecca’s promotion reflects her successful leadership style and thoughtful strategic approach which has grown and expanded the BBC Studios Americas’ portfolio of diverse businesses. I am delighted she will spearhead our next phase of growth across our Global Distribution division. She’s a fearless leader, full of ideas and energy for bringing outstanding British content to viewers around the world, to meet our global ambition.”

Paul Dempsey Becomes Director of Performance

Glashow’s promotion comes as Paul Dempsey, president, global distribution at BBC Studios, has chosen to take up a new role as BBC Studios’ director of performance. He led BBC Studios’ international distribution operation for 10 years, and enjoyed many successes in the role including growing content sales by 50%, more than doubling investment in content, launching re-branded channels and extending their reach across the world, pioneering new markets, especially China and India and leading the expansion of Britbox.

Of his new role, Paul Dempsey said, ‘‘It has been a long-held ambition of mine to move into a role specializing in individual and team performance. As our company embarks on the next stage of its growth story, I can’t think of a more exciting or relevant time to be moving into this new area.”

Tom Fussell, CEO BBC Studios, said: “I’m pleased that Paul will be passing the baton to Rebecca with the business in such good health. I’d like to pay tribute to his many commercial successes. I am thrilled that Paul will be our director of performance, showing our commitment to supporting world-class performance at a time of major growth opportunity for the company. We are fortunate to have someone of Paul’s talents leading this for the whole of BBC Studios.”