BBC Worldwide Americas

industry: Consumer / Digital Media/Online / Entertainment

Function: General Management

Successful placements

Garth Ancier Named President of U.S. Operations for BBC Worldwide Americas

New York

Consumer, Entertainment

Former NBC, Fox and WB entertainment executive Garth Ancier is joining BBC Worldwide Americas in a new slot - President of U.S. Operations.  Ancier will move from L.A. to New York to oversee all of the BBC's U.S. ventures.  That includes cable channel BBC America and others, as well as BBC Worldwide Productions. The move comes as the BBC focuses on driving commercial expansion in the U.S.  BBC America, in 53 million U.S. homes, is now more than halfway distributed, and the company's L.A.-based production office just picked up three scripted pilots for U.S. TV. Most recently, Ancier was at Warner Bros. Television, both developing new programming and overseeing AOL's broadband video service In2TV.  Now at BBC, he will also oversee TV and video sales, as well as new digital ventures, reporting to BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith, overseeing TV and video sales

Herb Scannell to lead BBC Worldwide America

New York, NY

Consumer, Digital Media/Online , Entertainment

We are pleased to inform you that The Cheyenne Group has completed the search for the President of BBC Worldwide America.

Herb Scannell is the successful candidate. A highly accomplished and seasoned executive, Scannell served as President of Nickelodeon Networks and Vice Chairman of MTV Networks, and was most recently CEO of Next New Networks, a digital media company he co-founded in 2006.

In his new role, Scannell is responsible for growing the BBC brand and the business across all divisions in the U.S., the BBC’s largest market outside the UK.  He sits on the BBC Worldwide Executive Board. His responsibilities in the U.S. include flagship cable channel BBC AMERICA and BBC AMERICA HD, BBC Worldwide Productions, BBC.com, Sales and Distribution including Digital Syndication and Motion Gallery, Home Entertainment including Audiobooks, and Licensed Consumer Products.  He also oversees the exploitation of BBC Worldwide’s Global Brands in America.

Prior to founding Next New Networks, Scannell spent much of his career at Viacom.  As Vice Chairman of MTV Networks and President of Nickelodeon Networks he oversaw all creative and business operations for a portfolio of brands including Nickelodeon, the #1 rated network in cable TV for 10 years running, TV Land, the cable home of classic TV and Spike TV, America’s first network for men.  In addition he was responsible for a suite of digital networks including pre-school channel Noggin, as well as online offerings, a successful feature film division and Viacom’s Consumer Products division, which grew into the third largest licensing business in the world under his watch.

Scannell began his career at MTV Networks as Director of Programming, Nickelodeon in 1988 and quickly moved up the ranks becoming President of Nickelodeon in 1996. Prior to joining Nickelodeon and MTV Networks, he held various marketing and promotional positions in pay TV at The Movie Channel and Showtime.

“I’ve been associated with innovative brands and businesses throughout my career, and there’s none more innovative in television than the BBC,” Scannell said.  “It’s a world renowned brand with a great portfolio of businesses in the U.S. that have tremendous prospects.  I’m excited to be bringing these businesses together to make America an even bigger success for BBC Worldwide. Added to that, the digital assets of BBC Worldwide are awesome.”

John Smith, CEO BBC Worldwide said: “Herb has a tremendous track record of success in developing and extending innovative brands across multiple platforms, which is precisely the experience needed to help build the next phase for BBC Worldwide in the U.S.. Our American businesses have delivered significant successes in recent years – not least record ratings for flagship shows Dancing With The Stars and Doctor Who in the past month – and we believe Herb is the right person to leverage this success and build a power brand for the BBC in the U.S..”