RLJ hires UKTV exec as MD of Acorn Media

RLJ Entertainment has hired UKTV exec Catherine Mackin as the managing director of Acorn Media Enterprises (AME).

Mackin will oversee Acorn TV’s growing commissioning and co-production slate. She will start this month and is based in RLJ’s UK office in London.

The new exec replaces Shane Murphy, who is returning to Dublin as group head of drama and comedy at RTÉ.

Mackin was most recently the director of programme acquisitions at UKTV, where she oversaw the channel’s scripted and non-scripted acquisitions, co-productions and pre-sales.

She was responsible for bringing Suits, Primeval and Murdoch Mysteries to the channel, as well as heading up the content relationship with BBC Studios.

The exec has also acted as deputy director of programming at Ireland’s terrestrial commercial broadcaster TV3, which once ran channels GOLD and Bravo.

Mark Stevens, chief content officer for Acorn brands at RLJ said: “In the past three years, Shane and his team have established Acorn Media Enterprises as a preferred partner within the production community for high quality international productions, including co-producing deals for ITV’s Girlfriends, BBC’s Keeping Faith and Detectorists, as well as our first commissions of London Kills and Agatha Raisin, Series 2.

“While we are sorry to see Shane leave, we’re thrilled to continue the upward trajectory of AME with a seamless transition to Catherine Mackin. With her strong experience sourcing and delivering successful content across many genres, developing long-term external relationships, and delivering content strategies for terrestrial, cable, satellite and non-linear networks, Catherine is an excellent addition to the RLJ Entertainment family and to continue AME’s growth.”