Cold Glass Productions bolsters team with two key senior appointments

Leading entertainment production company Cold Glass Productions, the team behind the world’s biggest branded podcast, Dish from Waitrose, new podcast Outsiding featuring journalist Caitlin Moran and broadcaster and garden designer Adam Frost, digital content partner for The BRIT Awards, and social-first creative supporting the BBC’s radio shows, podcasts, and music mixes has announced two senior appointments as it enters its next phase of growth.

Rebecca Frank joins as Client Director, while James Nelson has been appointed Partnerships Director, strengthening the senior team as Cold Glass Productions looks to scale the business, deepen its relationships with existing clients and partners, and develop and launch new entertainment franchises. The appointments were announced today by the company’s four founders, Sam Cocker, Ben Kerr, Mark Rivers and Tom Young.

Rebecca Frank joins Cold Glass Productions with extensive experience spanning production, editorial, content strategy and commercial growth. She was previously Daytime Editor and then Head of Production at BBC Radio 1, before becoming Content Director for Bauer Media Group overseeing strategy, commercial and talent strategy for KISS Network.

James Nelson joins as Partnerships Director, bringing extensive experience in commercial strategy, brand partnerships and advertising. He was previously Brand Partnerships Director at JOE and Commercial Partnerships Director at 16NinetyTwo Sports Management, and most recently served asController of Agency and Client Sales at ITV.

Commenting on the appointments, Ben Kerr, CEO of Cold Glass Productions, said: “Bex joins us at a really exciting point in the growth of Cold Glass Productions. She will lead our relationship with Waitrose and help us shape the next phase of Dish strengthening an already brilliant long-term partnership, expanding the franchise and making sure our content strategy continues to deliver for both the brand and the audience.

“As we grow, Bex will build a team to work across the new clients and partnerships. We’ve always tried to do things in our own Cold Glass way, so together we’ll build a client service model that reflects the kind of shows we make, the way we work and the ambitious partners we want to work with.

“Of course, growth means bringing new clients and commercial partners into the business, and that’s where James comes in. We have known James since 2019, when we worked together on branded entertainment for Tesco. They were some of the most complex campaigns we’ve ever delivered, and James was brilliant at bringing together producers, commercial teams and the client to make them happen. 

“He’ll now bring that experience to Cold Glass Productions, initially developing commercial partnerships around Outsiding before building brand partnerships and new revenue streams across our schedule of new releases. We have a busy 18 months coming up and are actively looking for brand partners for upcoming shows, as well as working on new formats created in response to briefs from commercial partners.

“Bex and James bring two different but hugely complementary skill sets to the business. Their roles naturally work hand-in-hand, both with each other and with the founders and wider Cold Glass team, and they’ll be a big part of where we take the company next."

Rebecca Frank, Client Director at Cold Glass Productions, said: “I’ve spent my career between great content and commercial ambition, and Cold Glass sit perfectly at that sweet spot. They are uniquely making branded entertainment that audiences love, and crucially have all the energy to build more. Dish from Waitrose is the gold standard, and I can’t wait to keep it that way with this top team."

James Nelson, Partnerships Director at Cold Glass Productions, added: “I’m thrilled to join the team at Cold Glass - a business that is carving its own path in the entertainment landscape and producing some of the most effective brand work in the industry. I’ve known the founders Ben, Sam, Mark and Tom since 2019 and know that their quality of work and vision is truly second to none. Excited for the journey ahead...”

Cold Glass Productions are the team who originally conceived and created Dish for Waitrose. The company brings together marketing, social media, and editorial expertise to create new shows for digital platforms. The business principally works with celebrities to create digital formats that combine long and short-form entertainment, stretching across podcasting, YouTube, social channels and live events. Additionally, they use their social marketing experience to build bigger digital audiences for broadcasters & rights holders like The BRIT Awards and BBC.