Sky announces Assistant Commissioner intake

Six new assistant commissioners have joined Sky.

The recruits join the pay TV broadcaster via its new Assistant Commissioner programme, a two-year scheme designed to attract creatives from outside the traditional commissioning pool.

They are Sholla Caramba-Coker (Drama), Leanne Cosby (Arts & Entertainment), Ziyaad Desai (Factual), Isaac Nartey (Kids), Sabrina Parmar (Film) and Giberte Phanor (Factual).

Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios said:

“Across all genres, but particularly within Comedy and Drama, it is critical that we commission projects that reflect and represent the broadest range of lived experiences. Through the Assistant Commissioner programme, we have been able to bring in new talent, that will help shape our scripted slate over the coming years, ensuring we continue to produce unmissable TV that is loved by all Sky viewers and the world over.”

Sky note that commissioning execs have a ‘significant voice’ in deciding which programmes make it to air and that it is vital that these teams ‘represent everyone in society’.

The Assistant Commissioners will collaborate with indies and creatives across all genres to take early-stage Sky Original projects from script to screen and bring new ideas to returning formats.

They will be supported by the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in a unique partnership which will give them access to group seminars, short courses and individual coaching and mentoring throughout the programme.

Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content Sky UK and Ireland comments:

“We launched our search for new voices to add to our commissioning pool last summer, and it’s great to see the range of talent coming through the doors to shake up the slate. We know that the route into commissioning isn’t an easy one, particularly at more senior levels, so we’ve made it our priority to grow and diversify the team and by extension to safeguard our ability to provide customers with world-class content.”

The new Assistant Commissioners:

Sholla Caramba-Coker joins Sky Studios’ Drama team led by Meghan Lyvers, having begun her career as a script runner on Holby City. She most recently was based with Left Bank, where she was a Development Producer.

Leanne Cosby will join Sky’s Arts and Entertainment commissioning team led by Phil Edgar-Jones, having previously worked as a theatre and dance producer at the Barbican.

Ziyaad Desai and Giberte Phanor join the Factual team led by Poppy Dixon. Ziyaad has produced and directed a number of documentaries including Mother Theresa: For the Love of God, Bad Influencer and Ambulance. Gilberte joins from Blast! Films where she was a development executive.

Isaac Nartey joins the Kids team led by Lucy Murphy, having co-created Sky Arts’ BAFTA-winning spoken word programme Life & Rhymes whilst working as a member of Sky’s Young People team. He has most recently worked as Sky’s Manager of responsible Productions, ensuring content is produced in accordance with Sky’s sustainability and diversity & inclusion targets.

Sabrina Parmar joins the Original Film team led by Julia Stuart, having begun her career in film marketing at Universal Pictures before becoming a script editor and most recently a Development Editor for Paramount.

The Assistant Commissioner programme has been funded by Sky as part of a £30 million commitment to tackle structural inequality and to support diversity and inclusion.