Avanti poaches Films of Record MD

UK indie Avanti Media has poached Neil Grant from Zinc Media-owned Films of Record.

London- and Cardiff-based Avanti has hired Grant as creative director, placing him within the prodco’s senior management team alongside Emyr and Mair Afan.

He will be tasked with growing factual, features and current affairs when he joins in January 2017.

Grant is behind Films of Records documentaries such as Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning series The Murder Detectives, and previously worked at Mentorn Media. Before that he spent 17 years at UK pubcaster the BBC.

He said Avanti was “a passionate, exciting and innovative creative Welsh powerhouse, whose immense ambition, track record and reach span all networks”.

He added he leaving Films of Record with “great sadness”.

Fiona Stourton, Creative Director of Zinc Media, owner of Films of Record, said: “We are really sorry to see Neil go. He has a great passion for film making and we will miss his enthusiasm but, of course, we wish him all the best in his new role.’’

Avanti has produced shows such as ITV’s Jonathan & Charlotte, BBC One’s Jamie Baulch: Looking For My Birth Mum and Channel 4’s Britain’s Billionaire Immigrants. Currently in production is S4C and Sony Pictures Television coproduction Model Mechanic.

In related news, Avanti has signed a formats production pact with Pinewood Pictures, with Sky Vision picking up distribution.