As Claire Runham steps down from BossaNova Media to spend more time with family, the company has enlisted Francesca Johnson and Iona Hopper to lead its acquisitions strategy.
Paul Heaney, CEO and founder of BossaNova, said: “As a team, we are all totally gutted at Runners’ leaving, but we wish her very well and hope to work together again. The role of an acquisitions team in a distribution operation has changed so much in the almost decade we’ve worked together, and Runners rode every wave of change from self-commissioning to transforming the sparkling Development Day into what it is today. Iona and Francesca are two people at the forefront of all these changes, and we know they’re not coming in for business as usual. Both have very different, complementary skills and certainly wouldn’t be agreeing to join the brilliant BossaNova team if they didn’t see the huge gap of opportunity on offer for a resourced unscripted distributor in today’s market. Businesses in distribution can only thrive with the right investment, an established community of buyers, producers, and an excellent team. We have that. Can’t flipping wait.”
Johnson joins the firm as head of acquisitions. She spent more than a decade at National Geographic and was most recently EVP of content at Anyway Content.
“After a career spanning broadcasting, production, and consulting with indie clients in the U.K. and internationally, I’m thrilled to be joining the distribution side of the business at BossaNova,” Johnson said. “Paul and the team are known for their innovative approach to financing and deal-making. I can’t wait to see what we achieve together!’
Hopper has been tapped for the newly created role of acquisitions manager, reporting to Johnson. She was previously part of the acquisitions team at DCD Rights. “I’m excited to be joining BossaNova at a time when innovative distributors are more important than ever in the content ecosystem. I’ve long admired Paul and the team’s approach to development and deal-making, and I’m really looking forward to getting started with the newly formed acquisitions team!’
In the wake of the restructure, Lyra Semsedini has been promoted to acquisitions and materials co-ordinator.
