Jon Penn leading BBC Studios APAC in new regional business unit

Jon Penn (pictured) has been appointed executive vice president, APAC, as BBC Studios creates an Asia-Pacific regional business unit.

BBC Studios has brought its Asia and Australia & New Zealand regions together to create the Asia-Pacific (APAC) regional business comprising its international sales and distribution business, under the leadership of Penn, formerly managing director, Australia & New Zealand, BBC Studios.

The move follows the departure of Myleeta Aga, acting EVP, Asia, and comes after all BBC Studios’ international sales and distribution business, encompassing content sales, branded services and ancillaries, came together as a single global distribution group from 1 September under Paul Dempsey. In his expanded role, Penn will continue to report to Dempsey.

Paul Dempsey, president, global distribution, said: “Jon’s ability and experience makes him ideally suited to extend his remit across our successful Asia business. He has overseen an impressive growth story in Australia and New Zealand and this is a great opportunity to bring our fast growing Asia business into a formidable APAC region.

Jon Penn said: “Having spent many years working throughout the region, I’m thrilled to be offered the opportunity to bring the ANZ and Asia teams together for the first time. We will continue to bring the very best of the BBC’s world-class content to customers throughout Asia Pacific.”

Prior to his successful tenure as managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Penn was, for four years, CEO Asia-Pacific for Fremantle’s International distribution division.