Mediawan Shifts Global Distribution Arm to London and Taps Former All3Media International Exec Sally Habbershaw to Run Division
Mediawan Group, the thriving European studio behind Plan B, See-Saw Films and Drama Republic, is relocating its distribution business to London with the appointment of former All3Media International exec Sally Habbershaw.
Habbershaw, who recently relocated to London from New York where she worked as Americas sales chief at All3Media International, has been tapped chief distribution officer at Mediawan.
The U.K. move illustrates Mediawan’s global ambitions and international expansion. The company, which is headed by chairman and co-founder Pierre-Antoine Capton, comprises over 80 companies across 14 countries. Besides Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment – which recently expanded its footprint in Europe with a London office and poached Ed Macdonald, the well-respected British producer of “Baby Reindeer,” to run the outfit — Mediawan is also the owner of See-Saw Films (U.K./Australia), Drama Republic and Misfits (U.K.), Palomar and Our Films (Italy), LEONINE Studios (Germany), Boomerang and Good Mood (Spain), Submarine (Netherlands/US), Chapter 2 and Chi-Fou-Mi (France).
Under the newly-created role, Habbershaw will accelerate Mediawan’s plans to build a content slate of premium English-speaking content and strike international partnerships, riding on a wave of successes, from Plan B’s racing drama “F1: The Movie” (Apple’s highest grossing movie to date) and multi-Emmy Award-winning series “Adolescence,” and “Slow Horses’” from See-Saw Films, as well “Call My Agent!,” one of the most adapted series worldwide. Habbershaw will work alongside Mediawan’s sales teams based in France and Germany. Further key hires will soon be unveiled.
Under the rejigging of the banner’s distribution arm, Valérie Vleeschhouwer, the longtime CEO of Mediawan Rights, will be working alongside Habbershaw throughout a transition period, ahead of her departure from the company. Vleeschhouwer held a 20-year tenure as deputy managing director at AB Group which became part of Mediawan in 2017. Since then, she played a role in the integration of Lagardère Studios’ distribution activities in 2020 and Leonine Studios in 2024.
“As we open a new chapter in Mediawan’s international expansion by relocating our distribution leadership to London, I am thrilled to welcome Sally Habbershaw to the Group, reporting to Elisabeth d’Arvieu, Mediawan Pictures CEO,” said Capton, who praised the executive for her “expertise and vision” that “will be essential through this new phase of Mediawan’s global development.”
Capton also paid tribute to Vleeschhouwer’s “leadership and dedication.” “With over 30 years of experience, Valérie’s remarkable contribution has shaped our distribution activities, fostered privileged relationships with producers and external talents, and skillfully guided our adaptation to market evolutions,” Capton continued.
Habbershaw has a robust track record at All3Media International. During her years at the company, she scored major deals with David Attenborough’s “Ocean” with Nat Geo, Two Brothers tentpoles “The Tourist” (HBO/Netflix), “Liar” (AMC) and ‘Back to Life’ (Showtime/Paramount), New Pictures ‘Long Shadow’ (AMC), The Forge’s ‘National Treasure’ (Hulu), Playgrounds ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ (Masterpiece), Russell T Davies ‘It’s a Sin’ (HBO Max) and Snowed In ‘Joan’ (The CW). She also oversaw key format territory deals including Traitors in Latin America (NBC) and Canada (Bell Media) and Doc Martin (Fox). Prior to that she was VP of International Programming, Operations and Research at A&E Networks.
Mediawan is a content powerhouse with a catalogue of over 30,000 hours of programming, including hit movies such as “The Count of Monte Cristo,” the TV series “Zorro” and the animated blockbuster franchise “Miraculous Ladybug,” the geopolitical thriller “Kabul.” Its pipeline includes Sally Wainwright’s “Riot Women” and Hugo Blick’s “California Avenue,” both from Drama Republic and set for a showcase at Mipcom.
