Buccieri upped at ITV Studios US, Kyriacou adds new role

Paul Buccieri has been promoted to chairman of ITV Studios US Group, ITV’s umbrella division that includes all of its acquired Stateside production companies.

In a further change, ITV Studios Global Entertainment’s MD Maria Kyriacou is taking on responsibility for production outside of the US and the UK.

Buccieri (left) has been instrumental in UK broadcaster ITV’s numerous US non-scripted company acquisitions, which culminated in the recent US$360 million deal for Leftfield Entertainment.

The acquisitions of prodcos such as Leftfield, High Noon Entertainment, DiGa Vision, Thinkfactory Media and Gurney Productions have been cited as playing a key role in the financial turnaround at ITV, which is increasingly focusing on international business.

Buccieri had been CEO and president of ITV Studios US, which formed in September last year, but has now moved up.

Additionally, the former Fox/Twentieth Television programming president has also been promoted to chairman of ITV Studios Global Entertainment, ITV’s international distribution and consumer products division.

“Under Paul’s leadership, the US group has grown dramatically with the acquisition and operation of our fantastic production companies in the US,” said ITV Studios managing director Kevin Lygo.

“Our strategy is to further develop and grow the American operation both in reality and scripted, which is key to the success of our global content business, and I’m therefore delighted that Paul has stepped up to concentrate on leading the newly enlarged group, both creatively and strategically, into an exciting new phase.”

Meanwhile, Kyriacou is adding production duties outside the US and UK to her role. She will report to Buccieri on her ITVSGE brief, and to Lygo on the production side.

“Our production bases in Australia, France, Germany and the Nordics are also hugely important as we continue to develop a strong content pipeline in the key creative markets,” said Lygo of the change.

“Maria will provide excellent leadership and support to these teams which complements her existing role running our increasingly important Global Entertainment arm, one of the top three European distributors of television content.”

Kyriacou joined ITVS in 2010 from The Walt Disney Company, where she was senior VP, digital media distribution, EMEA.