BBC Three Controller to join Endemol Shine Group indie in the new year

Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, has today been announced as the new Managing Director of leading independent producer Tiger Aspect.

Reporting to Endemol Shine UK CEO, Richard Johnston, Damian will be responsible for the creative and strategic direction of the company. The appointment follows the departure of Ben Cavey earlier this month to join Netflix‘s comedy team in LA.

Richard Johnston, CEO Endemol Shine UK; “Tiger Aspect is a unique business, a genuinely multi genre company with a thriving slate including global scripted hits, innovative new comedy and entertainment and mulit award winning kids and animation. Damian is a brilliant creative leader who has taken BBC Three from strength to strength and I can’t think of anyone more suited to take Tiger Aspect to the next level.”

Damian Kavanagh said of the move; “I’ve had a wonderful time at BBC Three growing the channel as a digital youth brand and commissioning numerous hit shows loved by audiences and critics alike but feel that the chance to lead a company like Tiger Aspect with its brilliant diverse slate of programming is a rare opportunity that I simply couldn’t let pass. I’m looking forward to working with Richard and the fantastically talented creative teams at Tiger to build on the existing broad portfolio of hit shows and grow the business further.

Tiger Aspect has a rich heritage of break out hits from The Catherine Tate Show to Benidorm; Secret Diary of a Call Girl to Riper Street; Charlie & Lola to Bad Education. The current portfolio includes BAFTA award winning Peaky Blinders (BBC One), Curfew (Sky One), Bounty Hunters (Sky One), Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father (Netflix), Mr Bean (CITV), The Other One (BBC Two), Hitmen (Sky One) and Man Like Mobeen (BBC 3).

As Controller of BBC Three Damian is responsible for commissioning for the channel and oversees BBC Content’s multiplatform strategy. He took control of BBC 3 in December 2014 and oversaw the channel’s migration online in February 2016.

Under his leadership, BBC Three has achieved significant growth, won RTS Channel of The Year and Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards in 2017. Introducing the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Daisy and Charlie Cooper and Stacey Dooley to a BBC audience the channel has also won numerous creative awards for its programmes.

Damian first joined the BBC in 1994 holding various roles in BBC Daytime, BBC One, acting Controller of BBC Three and Controller of CBBC, where he was responsible for all TV and online commissioning.

Damian then joined Channel 4 as Head of Features and Factual Formats before returning to the BBC as Controller of Daytime and Early Peak. He was appointed controller of BBC Three in December 2014 and tasked with reinventing the BBC’s offering for young people.