SBS exec exits

Denise Eriksen, SBS Television’s Manager of Production and Development, is to leave the network.

Eriksen’s exit follows what the network labels a ‘restructure of the Content Division.’

SBS Director of Content: Television and Online, Matt Campbell said: “I would like to thank Denise for her contribution to SBS over the past two years and her commitment to a complex and difficult task. She leaves SBS having put in place a great team of Executive Producers to run a very full production and development slate.

“The restructure of the Content Division will focus on cross platform content reflecting network priorities. During the interim period the Executive Producers will report to me. On both a professional and personal level, I wish Denise all the very best with the next chapter of her career.”

Eriksen said: “I was brought into SBS to build on the wonderful success of the past by creating a new commissioning model to enable Australia’s talented independent production sector to better deliver a greater variety of content on our screens.

“Key to achieving this was making a change from a Commissioning Editor system to one of network Executive Producers and I leave with a sense of pride knowing I have appointed a talented group of professionals and have played my part in a successful period for the network.

“The highlights include the screening of landmark series First Australians, the launch of a new slate of food and leisure programming, the strengthening of our documentary slate, the commissioning of new drama and comedy, growing our Eurovision brand and the biggest Logies win the Network has ever achieved this year.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Matt and the team and I wish them well in the future. I now look forward to new work opportunities in an industry I love and perhaps some time to hit a few golf balls.”

Eriksen has been with SBS since leaving the ABC mid-2007.

Since December 2007 SBS has lost a number of key Drama executives including Sue Masters, Debbie Lee, Carole Sklan and Brett Sleigh with three headed to the ABC.

While Eriksen’s departure is unrelated to former staff exits, the cumulative drain to SBS is not insignificant.