Chris Bonney, who has led London-based indie distributor Cineflix Rights since 2012, is to retire in mid-2021 following an extended period of transition.

“Chris is very well-respected by his colleagues and peers alike, and we’re sad that he will be stepping down,” said Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck, co-founders and co-CEOs of Cineflix Media, in a statement. “However, we are grateful that he will continue to drive the company forward while we recruit his successor.”

A replacement for Bonney (pictured) has not yet been appointed.

Under his purview as CEO, Cineflix Rights has grown to become one of the largest indie TV distributors in the U.K., boasting a roster of 100 creative producer partners and a sales catalog of more than 5,000 hours of scripted and factual content.

He increased Cineflix’s third-party slate to nearly 50% of its overall portfolio, developed financing models to assist producer partners, including Cineflix Productions, and has overseen the company’s major push into scripted content acquisition.

In addition, Bonney also expanded Cineflix Rights’ factual offerings to include such global hits as Property Brothers, Border Security and Food Factory, while also creating successful partnerships with producers such as LMNO, Windfall Films, Finestripe, Scott Brothers Entertainment and Hoff Productions.

On the scripted side, Bonney has overseen the sales of international titles such as Tehran, Marcella, Happily Married, The Minister and An Ordinary Woman, in addition to Canadian titles Coroner and Wynonna Earp.

Bonney joined Cineflix nearly a decade ago from Warner Brothers International Television Production where he served as SVP of sales and acquisitions. Prior to this, he was MD of Outright Distribution and a board member at U.K.-based Shed Media.

“Over the last eight years, Chris has played a pivotal role in positioning Cineflix Media as a global content powerhouse. Under his skillful leadership, he has assembled a phenomenal team at Cineflix Rights and has drawn up a solid blueprint for enduring momentum and success,” noted Cineflix’s Salzman and Buck.

Bonney added: “Cineflix Rights is now well placed as a distributor with a highly successful scripted business alongside its longstanding factual operations. After 35 years in the industry, it feels like the right time for me to make a move to a new phase in life, and for a new hand to take the company to its next stage.