ISABELLE STEWART
London,UK
Summary
Highly knowledgeable acquisitions and production executive with extensive commercial and editorial experience across the independent and studio sectors. An excellent track record of negotiating high-value deals, driving revenue and growth while building meaningful, long term relationships with key stakeholders. A clear and direct communicator with first rate knowledge of the global content generation and distribution landscapes. Bilingual in English and French, fluent in Spanish and Italian.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of Original Content
Formula 1
11.2022 - 03.2025
- Overall responsibility to develop and execute the business’ long-term strategy for Formula 1 adjacent original content, delivering a significant additional revenue stream, as well as tentpole brand marketing opportunities
- Lead and deliver step-change growth in a key focus area for the business
- Developing strategies across the original content landscape whilst sourcing, evaluating and executing new opportunities
- P&L ownership and lead on regular reporting and the annual budgeting process alongside finance
- Slate – topline details of what’s been made
- Leading on all commercial and deal elements for original content
- Identifying ideal partners, platforms and broadcasters for various original content opportunities, balancing revenue potential, creative fit and reach
- Collaborate with the wider F1 Commercial teams to maximise opportunities
- Develop and expand relationships with partners, including broadcasters, producers and platforms
- Generate new business through request-for-proposals or pitches from outside parties
- Team management – take credit for Licensing too
Director, Content Development and Acquisition
Audible (Amazon)
08.2020 - 11.2022
- Commissioning and delivering a slate of Audible Original content led by A-list talent across multiple verticals, including Factual, Scripted, Theatre and Original Publishing
- Defining and leading Audible Original content strategy based on comprehensive marketplace analysis, future trend forecasts and customer insight as well as delivering on Audible diversity and inclusion goals
- Successfully led strategic pivot from volume-based to quality-focused approach, based on high-profile talent, brands and IP to drive subscription and retention across major international markets and extend the Audible brand
- Leading a team to identify opportunities, structure, negotiate and close complex, high value commissions with A-list talent, content creators from across the creative industries, studios, IP/brand owners and market-leading sports franchises
- Content partnerships included S’ABLE Labs (Idris and Sabrina Elba), Dirty Films, Left Handed films, Raw TV, Universal Music Group, Sonia Friedman Productions, Agatha Christie Ltd, and Hasbro
- Relationship management: primary point of contact with priority talent, building and maintaining productive relationships with key partners, identifying opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration
- Managing flow of content from signature to on-site placement for multiple projects simultaneously, quarterbacking production, marketing, legal and finance processes to ensure all contractual commitments are met and content is available on schedule and to budget
- Implementation of strategic deal principles in recognition of company transition from royalty-based licensing to buyout deals
- Led a cross-functional group in a global strategic review of deal terms and rights resulting in globally aligned guardrails and principles
- Cross-business collaboration: identifying and maximising opportunities with Prime Video, Alexa and Amazon Store business units
Head of Acquisitions
Protagonist Pictures
01.2018 - 07.2020
- Defining Protagonist’s content strategy
- Responsible for building sales slate of prestige independent films with a focus on distinctive new voices and acclaimed festival directors
- Closed agreements to represent over 50 titles including award winners at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto and London film festivals
- Establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with distributors, platforms, talent, producers, financiers and packaging/lit agents to build ongoing partnerships
- Regularly updating partners on strategy and performance
- P&L responsibility for slate, including sourcing and negotiating financing for films from multiple third-party financiers
- Led diversification into TV space by securing company’s first series
- Setting editorial policy to reflect shifting societal and cultural paradigms and create a strong brand identity
- Increased female filmmaker representation on the slate from 12% to 45%
- Building company profile in the industry through speaking at various panel events (Zurich Summit, Winston Baker International Film Finance Forum)
- Management of Acquisitions and Development Executives
Director, Worldwide Production and Acquisitions
Focus Features
02.2016 - 12.2017
- Acquiring high quality director driven independent films from international producers and sales agents for theatrical and TV distribution by Focus Features and Universal Pictures International
- Defining acquisitions strategy based on specific and shifting slate requirements
- Working closely with distribution teams to ensure acquisition and production opportunities align with Universal Pictures main slate
- Building P&Ls and financial models, assessing profitability, securing internal greenlight
- Overseeing production process across acquisitions slate, delivering creative feedback to filmmakers, ensuring productions run to schedule
- Management of international and local acquisitions teams
Manager, Local Production and Acquisitions
Universal Pictures International
11.2011 - 01.2016
- Acquiring commercial local language film content for priority international markets (UK, Australia, France, Spain and Italy) with a focus on comedy and genre titles in response to corporate pivot to capitalise on regional opportunities
- Building strong relationships with key local talent and producers in each market, enabling the acquisition of multiple extremely profitable box office hits across the territories
- Identifying local remake opportunities, from both the Universal catalogue and third-party productions
- Generating thorough market-by-market analysis including all details of competitive landscape and market trends to develop effective group strategy
- Overseeing production of each title for the studio, delivering creative feedback to filmmakers throughout the process
- Local language titles were the most significant contributors to top and bottom-line performance in France, Spain and Australia on multiple occasions and frequently broke box office records
Acquisitions Manager
StudioCanal
03.2007 - 11.2011
Education
CREATE Talent Lab - Executive Leadership Development in Design Thinking
NBC Universal
01.2017 - 12.2017
Future Leader - Sales and Acquisitions
Screen International
01.2017 - 12.2017
Diploma - Film Financing and Leadership
Inside Pictures
London, LA 01.2014 - 12.2014
Business of Film Course - undefined
FDA
01.2012 - 12.2012
B.A. (Hons) - Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish)
University of Bristol
Bristol, UK 01.2002 - 12.2006
Languages
French
Native
Spanish
Fluent
Italian
Fluent
Timeline
Head of Original Content
Formula 1
11.2022 - 03.2025
Director, Content Development and Acquisition
Audible (Amazon)
08.2020 - 11.2022
Head of Acquisitions
Protagonist Pictures
01.2018 - 07.2020
CREATE Talent Lab - Executive Leadership Development in Design Thinking
NBC Universal
01.2017 - 12.2017
Future Leader - Sales and Acquisitions
Screen International
01.2017 - 12.2017
Director, Worldwide Production and Acquisitions
Focus Features
02.2016 - 12.2017
Diploma - Film Financing and Leadership
Inside Pictures
01.2014 - 12.2014
Business of Film Course - undefined
FDA
01.2012 - 12.2012
Manager, Local Production and Acquisitions
Universal Pictures International
11.2011 - 01.2016
Acquisitions Manager
StudioCanal
03.2007 - 11.2011
B.A. (Hons) - Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish)
University of Bristol
01.2002 - 12.2006
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