Magnify Media head of sales leaves company as ITV Studios takes over catalogue

EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Appell, Sales Director of Magnify Media, is leaving the company Craft: good with wood distributor, while others change roles as ITV Studios takes over the company’s catalogue.

Appell, head of sales and co-productions at Plimsoll Productions, has announced that he will be stepping down from his position effective March 31. Emma Gosling, procurement and operations manager, already this week went to the Belgian distributor Primitives. As of last year, ITV Studios de facto owns powerhouse Plimsoll, which Magnify owns since 2020.

Deadline understands six full-time Magnify employees have been in talks with ITV Studio’s distribution arm. Chief executive Andrea Jackson has been appointed creative director of factual entertainment at Plimsoll Productions and at least one other executive is in advanced talks for a new role at ITV. in the office.

When Jackson’s new role was announced last month, ITV Studios said they would incorporate the Magnify catalog into their own library.

Magnify’s titles include the Channel 4 woodworking competition series Craft: good with wood and BBC Two programmes My unique B&B And Marcus Wareing’s tales from a vegetable gardenplus script programs Norwegian, heartbeat And eve.

“All Magnify staff have been supported through the formal consultation process and will remain in their current roles during the transition until the end of this year,” an ITV Studios spokesperson told Deadline. “All accessed the vacancies within ITV and some applied to ITV Studios while others chose to pursue opportunities outside the company.”

Appell, head of sales, confirmed his departure in a social media post. “I’ve helped build significant pre-sales and volume deals across all genres in English and English-speaking markets including the UK and Ireland, Australia and North America and it’s been a great journey to be back with all my clients and the sales team here at Magnify to Contact.

“It will be my last day on March 31 [I will be] then looking for new adventures. Thanks again to Andrea and all my wonderful colleagues and clients out there.”

ITV last year bought a controlling stake in Bristol-based fax giant Plimsoll for £103.5 million ($127.3 million). Plimsoll acquired Magnify in September 2020.