Blue Ant Int’l hires new director of sales and acquisitions for MEA and Benelux

Blue Ant International has appointed Sarah Hussain as director of sales and acquisitions overseeing the Middle East, Africa, Benelux and ancillary business, as part of the global distribution group’s continued expansion.

Based in London, Hussain will now have a dual reporting structure into Gerbrig Blanksma, SVP, international sales & partnerships for sales and Lilla Hurst, global head of acquisitions & partnerships for acquisitions. She will be tasked with all sales activity in these markets including pre-sales, content licensing and partnerships while also supporting acquisitions and growing Blue Ant International’s reputation as a distributor of premium content.

Hussain boasts over 10 years of sales experience and joins Blue Ant International from Vice Media Group where she worked as senior sales manager for EMEA and Canada, planning and executing brand partnerships, pre-sales deals and acquisitions. Prior to that, as a sales manager at A+E Networks, she negotiated and executed linear and digital sales for Benelux, the Middle East, Africa and Israel. In this role, she also negotiated format options and agreements and sourced a network of new co-production relationships from developing markets.

Speaking about the appointment, Blanksma said: “Sarah’s specialises in growing reach for producers in developing markets and has a deep connection to the Middle East, Africa and Benelux, which our clients can now tap into. Her proven track record maximising market opportunities and nurturing long-term relationships with platform partners is pivotal to expand our advantage in those regions.”

Hussain added: “I am excited to join such an esteemed and creative team. Blue Ant International is known for tackling the market with a tailor-made, solutions-based approach which includes co-production financing options and an extensive library of premium content. I look forward to bringing these innovative solutions to our partners.”