The former Cineflix Rights executive will report to Pierluigi Gazzolo and oversee all VIS development, production and distribution at the general level.
ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS), a division of ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), announce that Kate Laffey has been appointed Vice President of ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS).
Based in London, Laffey will report to Pierluigi Gazzolo, President of Studios & Streaming at ViacomCBS Networks International.
By directly overseeing all VIS development, production and distribution at the general level, Laffey’s main objective will be to increase the global presence of the VIS in all regions, internationally. Laffey will work closely with local leaders and each cluster in the study, seeking out the best local hits and expanding them globally to create a unified global business.
Laffey will oversee a large, unified international production and development team, while at the same time leading the search for VIS fictions in the UK for export to other markets. In addition, she will work closely with the VIS content sales area, led by Lauren Marriott, as the company continues to consolidate its business around the world.
Previously, Laffey served as Vice President of Acquisitions in Cineflix Media’s UK distribution business, Cineflix Rights, where she played a key role in expanding the company’s third-party content offerings.
Prior to that position, Laffey served as a Senior Acquisition Executive at ITV, where she was responsible for the acquisition of third-party fiction and non-fiction content, while overseeing first-look deals and developments.
Pierluigi Gazzolo said: “ViacomCBS International Studios has seen average revenue growth of nearly 50 percent since its inception, and with this sustained growth, our studio business continues to play a crucial role in ViacomCBS’s content ecosystem. The phrase ‘Content is King’ has never been more relevant than in today’s global streaming landscape, and I am confident that Kate will be a key player in the evolution of our business going forward.”
Kate Laffey said: “I am excited to join ViacomCBS International Studios at this important time where our industry is evolving. As the company prepares for the future, I see tremendous potential to grow the international formats business and capitalize on opportunities. strategies for the sustained development of the VIS”.
