Noel Hedges Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

I lead all TV content acquisitions for this major and prolific Film and TV Studio, managing in-house and 3rd party project flow into the content pipeline. Having a multi-genre focus, I can successfully spot a commercial opportunity and have developed an extensive network globally, honing a collaborative approach, balancing producer needs against my own business priorities. This has made me a trusted face for producers needing international patterns and financing. Running commercial point for all acquisitions from project sourcing to deal negotiation, this gives me a key role initiating sales strategies with the distribution teams both at "finished tape" stage and for pre-sales and copro finance, often pitching and leading the sales approach to buyers. Leading a team across multiple markets, my role encompasses budget planning, sales forecasting, team building, content evaluation, project development, output deals and project financing from US scripted, non-English drama to premium documentary. My judged and winning approach to content selection, combined with detailed and thorough commercial deal-making has resulted in consistent international sales success and has solidified third party acquisition as an integral part of the studio's business. See below for recent successes:

London, England, United Kingdom

Mentor for the Soho House x CMN programme, helping my mentee with guidance, advice and networking within the creative communities.

London, United Kingdom

At DRG, I led and restructured the Acquisitions department to manage the content pipeline across all genres and build relationships with “in house” producers from the group companies. Anchoring the role was the establishment of the overall acquisitions strategy, in collaboration with CEO and COO, that would provide the road map for hitting revenue targets a key focus immediately being rebuilding of the company’s scripted portfolio. • Developed and managed overall acquisitions strategy (including budget planning) • Identified new acquisitions from producers around the world, and pitched for business in a highly competitive environment globally. Grew the scripted catalogue, finding a broad spectrum of opportunities from first look and development deals and production investments (see below).• Managed a 4 person team across scripted and non-scripted, ensuring that the company is represented fully in the sector. • Strategizing with CEO over scripted remakes of DRG controlled IP, particularly related English language opportunities and managing roll out of other remakes versions.• Ensured strong sales and marketing plan is in place for each new investment and that sales plan is efficiently and effectively actioned, with information carefully fed back to originating producer.

London, United Kingdom

Headhunted to join Cineflix and lead the newly organized Acquisitions department during a dynamic growth period for the company. Equipped with a acquisition budget of approx. $9m. I set the overall acquisitions strategy to provide efficient growth by developing a strong content pipeline. Leading a team of 6 people (London and Canada based), key achievements included: Managing overall acquisitions budget, devising the third party scripted strategy over 4 years, identifying and acquiring new sources of content from producers around the world and maintaining current producer relations. Additional responsibility for coordinating the sourcing of presales and coproduction finance on third party productions in conjunction with sales team.

London, United Kingdom

Overall responsibility for the management of content being delivered into the distributor from both companies within the Shine Group (e.g. Kudos, Dragonfly, Shine, Princess) and from third party producers. A newly created post to set in place process, managing a team of 4, I developed the overall strategy and organized the many sources of programming for the distributor into a clear product pipeline and ensured precise communication of data and information to sales, finance tea and Shine Group Exec board. Key skills/responsibilities: budget planning | acquisition strategy | investment management | deal negotiation | content sourcing & evaluation | inter-departmental comms | sales pitching | team management.

Los Angeles

Overall responsibility for sales, coproduction and acquisitions in the USA, Canada and Latin America, required to meet and exceed revenues from programme exploitation in the USA, Canada and Latin America. Managing 3 sales executives and 3 coordinators, the role had a combined budget of over £10m. per year. Management of all genres activity in the region but with direct responsibility for scripted sales, presales, acquisitions and coproductions in North America. Achievements include: the conclusion of a major coproduction for “Titanic” with ABC network, the management of an US acquisition budget of approx. $7m bringing in significant revenue for the company and ground-breaking deals for UK drama with major broadcasters such as Starz, Hallmark and A&E.

London, United Kingdom

Responsibility for management and sustained growth of ITV Globalʼs drama portfolio at all levels from coproduction through to sales. Tasked with acquiring, managing and developing high quality programming for ITVG to distribute from both in house and independent producers in the UK and internationally. Responsibility for all drama coproduction activity at ITV, brokering all coproduction partnerships on ITV productions and for several independents and seeking out new coproduction partners and/or investors for drama production whilst maintaining existing relationships. Requires liaison with writers, producers and broadcasters, investment and sales negotiation, monitoring of final delivery and implementation of sales strategy.

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Education record

Certificate In French Translation, French Language And Literature, Distinction

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), French And German, 2:1