Sky Studios names Preethi Mavahalli as Head of the Drama team

Sky Studios recently appointed Preethi Mavahalli to Creative Director of Drama. She will lead the in-house drama team to create new Sky Originals for the company's European markets.“I have been watching Sky Original drama go from strength to strength in recent years, constantly raising the bar with ambitious and ground-breaking series,” Mavahalli said.

 The executive will be tasked with producing and developing related titles in the UK. Upon assuming responsibility for the recently established role this January, Mavahalli will report to Chief Content Officer Jane Millichip. Mavahalli’s team will include Executive Producers Kara Manley, Victoria Wharton, Serena Thompson, and Beverly Brooker, and she will work alongside the Director of Commissioning for Drama Gabriel Silver. With ample development and executive production experience, Mavahalli has contributed to various award-winning series such as "The Serpent," "Noughts + Crosses," and "The War of the Worlds."

Currently, Director of Drama at award-winning indie, Mammoth Screen, producers of Poldark, Victoria and Endeavour, Mavahalli has developed and overseen a range of other hit series, which includes McDonald & Dodds and Next of Kin for ITV, as well as The City & the City and NW for BBC Two.  “With the launch of Sky Studios and its unrivaled ambitions and ability to partner with talent, the bar has been set even higher, and I could not pass up the opportunity to lead in-house drama,” Mavahalli said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Before joining Mammoth in 2011, she worked at Film4 and Film London. Sky Studios is developing a range of in-house projects across Europe, with production on "The Rising" for Sky UK and "Blocco 181" for Sky Italia. Both series are set to air next year. “Preethi is an exceptional talent. Her instincts for identifying great ideas and developing them into world-class television is second to none,” Jane Millichip, Chief Content Officer, Sky Studios, said. “We couldn’t be more excited to have her lead the next phase of Sky Studios’ push into in-house drama development and production.”

To accomplish its target production goal for the European region, Sky Studios will continue producing content in-house and partners with indies to the commission, fund, and co-produce drama, scripted comedy, and documentaries. In order to achieve its mission to double its production of original content by 2024, the company has increased its investment in in-house production and content from the indie sector.