BBC Studios Names Director of Commercial & Operations for NHU

BBC Studios has tapped Juli Porter to serve in the newly created role of director of commercial and operations of the Natural History Unit (NHU).

Porter will lead all business functions, including production, operations and commercial activity, of the NHU. She joins from Wildstar Films, where she served as COO and oversaw production on titles such as Underdogs with Ryan Reynolds and Sentient with Darren Aronofsky.

Porter has 20 years of production experience in the U.K. and the U.S. and has worked on a range of award-winning programs, including Strictly Come Dancing. Prior to joining Wildstar Films, she was COO at Whisper for a decade.

Porter will take up her role in April and will report to Nicola Pino, chief operating officer at BBC Studios Factual Productions. Porter will receive direct reports from Maria Norman, head of production of the NHU.

“Juli is a proven strategic business leader who has guided multiple companies through significant growth and transformation,” said Jonny Keeling, head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit. “Her production experience spans a variety of genres—working on some of the world’s most ambitious and popular television on both sides of the Atlantic. Her commitment to fostering an inclusive and ambitious creative culture and her extensive commercial expertise make her the perfect fit for the NHU. I cannot wait to work with her as we look to grow the Unit.”

Porter added, “I am delighted to be returning to the BBC and joining the Natural History Unit at this pivotal and exciting time. The NHU is one of the crown jewels of BBC Studios, and I can’t wait to be a part of its future as it delivers a new era of bold and brilliant programming to audiences worldwide.”