SkyShowtime announces three key senior appointments

SkyShowtime’s CEO Monty Sarhan announced three key senior appointments to the company’s growing executive leadership team. The announcement comes as the new streaming service prepares for launch, which is planned to begin later this year and then roll out across more than 20 European markets.   

In detail, Jon Farrar has been named Head of Programming. He joins SkyShowtime from BBC Studios, where he led their direct-to-consumer programming strategy in his dual role as Global VOD Director and Editor-in-Chief of BBC Select, the BBC’s first-ever branded SVOD service in North America. He was also part of the team that developed BritBox, the streaming joint venture between BBC Studios and ITV. Reporting to Sarhan, Farrar will be responsible for programming strategy, overseeing the service’s top-quality pipeline of partner studio content, and building a world-class programming team across SkyShowtime’s markets to develop original and local content. Farrar will also lead the acquisitions, scheduling, editorial, and content operations functions.

“I am so thrilled to be taking up this role which, for a fan of great programmes, is the most exciting job in European streaming. I cannot wait to start working with Monty and the team on how we take a unique approach to bring SkyShowtime, with its brilliant content pipeline, to audiences across the continent,”  Farrar commented.  

Furthermore, Raquel Berzosa has been appointed as Regional General Manager for Iberia. Berzosa will be responsible for expanding SkyShowtime in Spain and Portugal, building and leading the regional distribution and partnerships group, and overseeing marketing and content across Iberia. She joins from NBCUniversal International Networks & DTC, where she was Vice President, Affiliate Sales & Country Lead, Iberia. Berzosa has a long track record working in the entertainment industry and has extensive experience negotiating with partners in Spain and Portugal, including launching the Universal+ on-demand service, which is currently available on three of the four main platforms in Spain. Based in Madrid, Berzosa will also report to Sarhan.

“This role is a dream come true for someone who is as passionate about entertainment as I am. I am thrilled to be joining Monty’s leadership team. The interest from distributors has been overwhelming and I look forward to bringing SkyShowtime’s amazing content to our audiences in Spain and Portugal,”  Berzosa stated. 

Lastly, Richard Thurston joins SkyShowtime as Chief Human Resources Officer. Thurston will lead the HR team and support the leadership team in building an inclusive, thriving culture. Thurston joins the team after ten years at Sky, where he held several leadership roles, including his most recent Group role as HR Director and was instrumental in shaping Sky’s Group operating model. Before joining Sky, Thurston worked for the BBC as HR Director of the BBC News Group supporting teams across the globe, and prior to this he spent seven years at ITV. Thurston will also report to Sarhan.

“I was fortunate enough to have been involved in laying the foundations of SkyShowtime since inception, so the opportunity to continue to be part of the journey of this unique business as it grows and connects to customers is hugely exciting. I am passionate about creating inclusive, supportive environments, where people can be themselves, innovate and grow. I look forward to working with the rest of the leadership team and welcoming great talent to SkyShowtime,”  Thurston remarked.

“A company’s greatest resource is its people, and one of my top priorities has been to recruit individuals with a record of proven leadership to join SkyShowtime. These three talented individuals are all accomplished leaders who put people first —from our subscribers to our teammates— and I am proud that they will be joining us as we build the next great streaming service for Europe,”  Monty Sarhan concluded.