BBC Studios appoints Cecilia Persson as Head of Children's division

BBC Studios has named WarnerMedia’s Cecilia Persson as MD of its soon-to-be expanded Children’s division. The executive is scheduled to start her new role in January of next year.“Children’s joining BBC Studios Production is an exciting development full of opportunities, and Cecilia’s passion for the genre, as well as her experience in shaping and implementing strategy in this area, means she is brilliantly positioned to lead the business as it becomes an integral part of BBC Studios next year," CEO Ralph Lee said.

Upon starting in her new position, Persson will lead the BBC’s in-house children’s TV department’s transition to being part of commercial outfit BBC Studios, at which point it will be able to produce programming for third parties in line with other BBC Studios divisions such as the Natural History Unit (NHU). The appointment comes ahead of the broadcaster’s in-house Children’s Production arm – which is behind shows such as Blue Peter and My Mum Tracy Beaker,  becoming part of BBCS from April 2022. 

“Children’s is a special, unique genre with the power to shape language and worldview in younger audiences," Lee continued. "Children’s joining BBC Studios Production is an exciting development full of opportunities, and Cecilia’s passion for the genre, as well as her experience in shaping and implementing strategy in this area, means she is brilliantly positioned to lead the business as it becomes an integral part of BBC Studios next year.”

Persson serves as the second senior Warner exec to join the BBC over the past year. She will contribute to the shift, will is projected to help the company strengthen its commissions and customer slate. The executive previously worked for WarnerMedia for more than 15 years, most recently as VP of programming & content strategy for EMEA, acquisition & co-production international. She left last December following a restructuring ahead of the launch of streamer HBO Max, as revealed by TBI.