Blue Ant Studios has promoted Diane Rankin to the new role of EVP, content development and commercial strategy.

Rankin will now lead the development strategy across Blue Ant with a focus on creating and financing multi-genre unscripted and scripted originals, connecting opportunities between the development and distribution units. She will also oversee marketing and initiatives to build awareness of the studio’s original productions.

Previously, her role at Blue Ant was EVP, commercial strategy and content financing.

Blue Ant’s existing development and marketing teams will now report to Rankin, while she continues to operate from the London office and reports to co-presidents Matthew Hornburg and Mark Bishop.

“Her new focus at the studio will amplify the team’s efforts in developing world-class content for the market, and that we continue to develop relationships with the best possible partners,” said Hornburg in a statement.

Rankin joined Blue Ant after the studio’s acquisition of marblemedia in August last year, where she served as EVP, international and executive producer. She has also served as SVP, acquisitions at DRG (since renamed NENT Studios); head of acquisitions at Cineflix Rights; and spent more than 13 years at Playback parentco Brunico Communications.

Image courtesy of Blue Ant Media