Keshet UK’s Sara Johnson is joining Fox Networks Group Europe and Africa in the newly created role of Vice-President for Scripted Drama, TVWise has learned.
Johnson will be responsible for creating a scripted drama development and production slate for the group’s flagship FOX channels across Europe and Africa. She will be based out of the company’s London office and will report directly to Jeff Ford, Fox Networks Group UK’s Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Content Development for Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa.
In addition to spearheading FNG’s original drama push across Europe and Africa, Sara Johnson will also work closely with the LA based Global team, and specifically FNG’s Executive Vice President of Scripted Programming & Original Content and head of Fox International Studios Sharon Tal Yguado, on “regionally based projects”.
“We’ve had tremendous success with our global FOX content, which is synonymous with bold, creative and innovative programming”, said Jeff Ford. “Bringing Sara to the company reinforces our commitment to develop fresh, new drama for this region specifically, combining the internationally renowned talent and creativity here in the European television industry with Fox’s expertise in quality TV production.”
Johnson joins Fox from Keshet International where, as Head of Co-Productions, she was responsible for securing co-production deals for scripted projects and worked on such projects as BBC One’s The A Word and Channel 4’s Loaded. A twenty veteran of the industry she has also held key roles at Lynda La Plante’s La Plante Productions, Sky1 and Sony International Television’s UK Division. She got her start in the industry as a story editor on BBC One’s EastEnders.
“I am delighted to be joining Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa, and Jeff at this crucial and exciting time for the scripted business”, added Sara Johnson, who takes up post as Fox Networks Group’s Vice-President of Scripted Drama on September 12th. “Fox has always been known for quality television and I feel lucky to be able to help build the drama slate, to realise the regional and global ambitions of the team.”
Notably, this is the first time that Fox Networks Group has created a dedicated role for original drama projects for the European and African markets. It builds on the company’s ambition to not only be a global broadcaster of licensed shows – as they are with Wayward Pines, Da Vinci’s Demons and The Walking Dead – but also a powerhouse producer. It was that ambition that led to the creation of Fox International Studios, their in-house production division which is behind Robert Kirkman’s latest drama series Outcast.
