Sam Barcroft quits Barcroft Studios; Alex Morris takes reins

Alex Morris

Alex Morris, chief creative officer at the UK’s Future plc-owned Barcroft Studios, is taking over the day-to-day running of the company, following the exit of founder and CEO Sam Barcroft and COO Caspar Norman.

Morris will also lead Future Studios and take responsibility for its company’s new “video centre of excellence” as he seeks to take advantage of new opportunities in original video across the company’s stable of media brands.

He will be supported in his newly expanded role by John Farrar, Barcroft Studios creative director, who will provide creative input to Future Studios whilst continuing to run the TV division and lead on projects for external clients including Channel 4, Discovery and Snapchat.

Barcroft is the factual studio behind shows including Amazing Interiors for Netflix and The Day The Dinosaurs Died for BBC Two. It was founded by Sam Barcroft in 2003 as Barcroft Media and expanded from providing exclusive stories and photography for print media brands to producing original factual video content for VOD platforms, TV networks and consumer brands.

Morris’s new position comes following the departure of Barcroft and Norman, who oversaw the integration of the businesses since its acquisition by Future in 2019.

“I’m excited to build on the strengths of both Barcroft and Future under this new structure, said Morris. “There is a huge opportunity to leverage the group’s substantial media brand portfolio in video and TV.”

Sam Barcroft commented: ”Over the last 17 years I’ve assembled the UK’s best and brightest original video team. It’s been the most incredible adventure. It’s time for me to stand aside and cheer them on as they begin an exciting new chapter.”