Zai Bennett is leaving Sky to join the BBC’s main commercial subsidiary, BBC Studios, as its new CEO and chief creative officer, taking up the new role in November this year.

Currently managing director of contact at Sky, Bennett will head up BBC Studios’ (BBCS) UK and international production units, owned labels and invested indies across its global entertainment, factual, scripted, kids & family and audio genres.

His remit will also include retaining BBCS’ position as a provider of scale original streamer series while continuing to be the biggest content supplier to the BBC.

Bennett will take up the new role in November, reporting into CEO Tom Fussell, joining BBC Studios’ executive committee. Fussell said: “Zai’s risk-taking creative hit-rate speaks for itself. He has impact and gravitas and can propel BBC Studios Productions even faster forward without losing the deeply engrained BBC ethos all who work here share.

“His deep genre experience in scripted comedy and drama through to factual entertainment, documentaries, film and kids, coupled with the relationships he’s cultivated with the very best creative talent, will complement our production business growth plans and take us to the next level domestically and globally. I can’t wait for him to start.”

Bennett added: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the powerhouse that is BBC Studios Productions this autumn. BBC Studios Productions has a special place in the production ecosystem, upholding the BBC’s unique purpose and values in everything they do, while marrying this with creative commerciality to help export the BBC’s brand around the world as a champion for the highest quality programming in every genre.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join Tom’s team, his ambition and plans for BBC Studios are clear, exhilarating and infectious. I can’t wait to work with him and the world-class creative teams across all the genres and divisions to help keep driving BBC Studios Productions’ growth and stature around the world.”