Sue Ashworth Is Sky Sports’ New Head of Commercial Development
SKY SPORTS has named Sue Ashworth as its new Head of Commercial Development.
Reporting to Managing Director Vic Wakeling, she takes on her new role as Roger Moody retires after 13 years at Sky Sports.
Sue, who is currently an executive producer for Sky Sports, has over two decades of experience in sports broadcasting and has worked on the world’s major sports events including Olympics, World Cups, US Open and Wimbledon tennis, World Championship and Grand Prix athletics and the Commonwealth
Games.
Announcing the appointment Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports said: ‘Sue has been in the business for 22 years – the last eight of them with Sky – and there are very few people around today who can match her experience in terms of live programming, big events and contacts.
‘Sue was in charge when we first used the Sky digital platform to pioneer multi-court coverage of tennis, at the US Open two years ago. She has worked on other major programming across Sky Sports, and knows our channels well.
‘Sky Sports continues to grow its subscription base at a very healthy rate, but we are looking to improve the service, and widen our offering of all sports. Sue will play a key part in that.
‘She still enjoys the challenge of live television, but we are delighted she has agreed to step into this key management role, working alongside Trevor East – Deputy MD, Acquisitions – and Andy Melvin – Deputy MD, Production.’
Sue has worked within terrestrial and multi-channel broadcasters, in independent production and as a freelance producer. She started her production career with BBC Television Sport in 1981, where she was involved in summer and winter Olympics, two World Cups and shows such as Grandstand, Sportsnight and Match of the Day.
Moving to Champion Television in 1990, Sue was a senior producer and director for tennis, football and golf output supplied to the new BSB Sports Channel. After roles as a freelance producer and as a producer for Cheerleader Productions, based in the USA, she moved to Sky Sports in 1994.
During her eight years with Sky Sports Sue has worked with a range of national and international sports bodies, including the ITF, ATP, NBA and NFL, and liased with domestic and international rights-holders and broadcasters.
As executive producer she has been involved in rights acquisitions, production co-ordination, regulatory compliance, staffing and budgeting as well as directing a range of live sports.
Her production of the US Open tennis in 2000 was the first tournament shown live in the UK with interactive multi-match coverage, offering up to five different matches at any one time to Sky digital viewers.
For further information please contact:
Chris Haynes at Sky Sports on 0207 705 3905