BBC Studios Audio strengthens leadership with senior editorial and commercial hires

Lydia Shamah steps into the role of Creative Director of Drama, where she will lead the drama content strategy and develop new creative partnerships. Shamah’s background includes key roles at Realm and Audible working on acclaimed projects such as Orphan Black: The Next Chapter, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story and partnerships with the likes of DC, Universal Music and Ubisoft.

Richard Morris becomes Creative Director of Comedy and Entertainment responsible for a slate of hit comedy series and new talent development in partnership with BBC Studios TV Comedy. A former stand-up and writer, Morris has held senior production roles across BBC Radio and commercial platforms working on titles such as You Heard it Here First and Strong Message Here for the BBC as well as The Big Pitch with Jimmy Carr for Netflix.

James Cook has been appointed Creative Director of Factual, overseeing the production and development of factual formats like Desert Island Discs and You’re Dead to Me, and award-winning serials such as Stalked and Things Fell Apart. Cook, who brings a wealth of experience across multiple genres from long-form narrative to weekly formats, is charged with propelling the creative and commercial expansion of the unit.

Richard Knight, Director of Audio at BBC Studios, said: “The creative and commercial strength these appointments bring to our team puts us in a great position to deliver our ambitious plan to grow in every genre, deliver world-class content and reach new audiences. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

In other moves to drive commercial opportunities to support BBC Studios Audio and further drive commercial opportunities outside the UK, John Sardelis joins BBC Studios as Audio Ad Sales Account Director. Sardelis will lead business development and podcast sales strategy in North America and will be based in the U.S., reporting into Christopher Dean, Interim SVP, Ad Sales at BBC Studios. Sardelis comes to BBC Studios from Barometer, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer, and previously held leadership roles at ABC/Disney, ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In the UK, India Opie Meres joins from Buzz 16 as Partnerships Lead, developing commercial content opportunities across BBC Studios’ ad-supported productions, and Georgina Revell becomes Digital Lead, building the team’s social media and visualisation strategy. Both report to Helen Pendlebury, Commercial & Business Development Director.