UKTV has appointed Simon Michaelides as chief marketing and innovation officer, a new role replacing chief marketing and communications officer Zoë Clapp.
Michaelides was previously chief transformation officer at UKTV and BBC Studios UK, responsible for leading the integration of the two businesses post-acquisition.
In his new role, he will lead UKTV’s marketing, media, creative, innovation, and content and product funding teams, reporting into CEO and BBC Studios UK & Ireland president Marcus Arthur.
“With new brands, products and audiences an increasingly important driver of success at UKTV, I felt it was essential to evolve our marketing and innovation activity to ensure strong and consistent growth,” Arthur said, adding that the new role will play a “key part” in ongoing innovation for BBC Studios Distribution in the UK as the business looks to expand its reach “in an increasingly competitive market”.
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Michaelides joined UKTV in January 2012 following 15 years in management consultancy and commercial marketing roles at Kantar Consulting, Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo.
In the seven years since, he has served as UKTV’s executive board marketing director and later chief commercial officer, before his promotion to CTO.
“I’m very excited to be able to bring my collective marketing, commercial and transformation experience to bear in this new role,” said Michaelides.
“Leveraging the combined capabilities of BBC Studios Distribution in the UK and UKTV by co-ordinating our brands, audiences and commercial innovation in this way, opens up new opportunities that will allow us to drive growth and expand the commercial footprint of the business.”
Zoë Clapp announced she would be stepping down earlier this month. She leaves the company on December 13, after which Michaelides will take up his new role.
