MUMBAI: Keshet International has appointed former BBC Worldwide sales executive Lucy Roberts, to the newly created role of sales manager central and eastern Europe. Roberts will report into sales director CEE & CIS (as well as Africa & Middle East, India, Ireland/UK, Canada and pan-regional broadcasters)  Cynthia Kennedy, to grow KI's business in the region where she will be responsible for both format and finished tape sales.

Roberts has more than eight years experience in TV distribution having represented the BBC’s diverse formats slate across CEE, Africa, Benelux and Italy and most recently, the entire finished programme catalogue to Russia, Ukraine and the Baltics. During her tenure Roberts sold the entertainment franchise Dancing With the Stars into four new territories including a Nigeria/Ghana co-pro. She also closed deals for several high-end finished dramas such as The Musketeers, Da Vinci’s Demons and Atlantis to an array of broadcasters including Ren TV and TV3 in Russia and 1+1 and Inter in Ukraine. Prior to her the role at the BBC, Lucy was at ITV Global Entertainment from 2006 – 2008.

Keshet International General manager distribution Keren Shahar said, “We are delighted to welcome Lucy to the team, it represents a reunion for her and Cynthia – together, I'm sure they will be a force to be reckoned with! Roberts’ experience in finished programming sales will be particularly valuable to us as we grow this area of our portfolio.”

Roberts added, "Keshet is renowned for being one of the most dynamic, innovative format creators in the world right now and I am really excited to be joining the team at a time when the company is growing and the catalogue is going from strength to strength."