New SVP, Distribution to oversee sales and co-production opportunities in UK and North America
11 July 2022 – Newen Connect, the distribution arm of the Newen Group, has hired former Mercury and BBC Studios exec Phil Sequeira to head up its burgeoning sales operations across the UK and North America. The appointment underpins Newen’s growth ambitions, which sees the European distributor place a dedicated focus in English-language markets.
Reporting to Newen Connect’s EVP Distribution, Leona Connell, Sequeira will be responsible for designing and implementing sales strategies for the UK and North America to help drive sales of new titles as well as Newen Connect’s current cross-genre catalogue of over six thousand hours. He will also explore and manage co-production opportunities for the distributor with broadcasters and platforms and look for further growth opportunities with existing and new market entrants.
On annoucing the appointment, Leona Connell – EVP Distribution – Newen Connect said: “While there has never been a better time to sell European content to the English-speaking market, we also recognise that English language content has broad international appeal, so it is only natural that this should be the focus of the next stage of Newen Connect’s ambitious growth plans. Phil’s wide-ranging experience and his track record in delivering sales and co-productions within the UK and North America make him the perfect candidate to take on this important role.”
Phil Sequeira added: “The breadth and quality of existing programming in the catalogue, as well as our exciting slate of upcoming European and English-language productions, put Newen Connect in a tremendous position to fulfil the needs of so many broadcasters and platforms. I’m looking forward to contributing to the company’s ongoing success and the achievement of such ambitious growth plans.”
Sequeira, was previously Senior Vice President of Sales, Distribution & Marketing at Mercury Studios Co where he spearheaded the music production company’s global sales, marketing and distribution strategies across all territories, media and platforms. Before that, he was VP of Scripted Sales & Co-Productions for BBC Studios, based in New York and Los Angeles, closing major deals with the likes of Amazon Prime for Steve McQueen’s award-winning anthology series, Small Axe and Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws; AMC for the Ben Whishaw-helmed dramedy This is Going To Hurt as well as HBO, Netflix, Disney+ and SHOWTIME. He has held sales executive roles at both ITV Studios Global Entertainment and BBC Worldwide looking after Western European territories including Benelux, the Nordics and German-speaking markets.