ABC appoints new Head of Factual

ABC has appointed Phil Craig, currently working for British independent producer, Nutopia, as its new Head of Factual.

Craig has co-produced ABC documentaries including Surviving Mumbai, Skippy: Australia’s First Superstar, The Great Escape: The Reckoning, Churchill’s Darkest Decision, two recently-completed projects: Chateau Chunder: The Australian Wine Revolution and Desert War plus The Secret History of Eurovision for SBS and Bom Bali for TEN.

Other credits include Geldof in Africa, Surviving Katrina, The Flight That Fought Back, and 2011’s Targeting Bin Laden, which contained President Obama’s only documentary interview on the Bin Laden raid; the BBC’s Finest Hour and Discovery Channel’s Shark Week; plus the BBC’s Storyville documentary strand and Sky Atlantic’s upcoming The British.

He as also worked extensively with the BBC, Granada Television and other leading UK production companies such as Diverse and Brook Lapping.

Kim Dalton, Director of ABC TV said, “We are thrilled to have someone of Phil’s background and expertise joining us. His achievements in Australia and internationally are quite exceptional and I have no doubt he will make an important contribution to the quality and diversity of the ABC’s factual output.”

Craig said, “This is a dream job for me. Over the last eight years I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working for the ABC alongside some fantastic Australian film-makers, and been hugely impressed with the talent and energy right across the industry here. I’m committed to the values and ambition of the ABC, one of the world’s truly great broadcasters. I’m looking forward to helping to maintain the high quality of its factual output, and developing it into new areas.”

ABC’s former Head of Factual Jennifer Collins was appointed Head of Entertainment in April while Karina Holden has been acting Head of Documentaries following the resignation of Allan Erson in May.

Craig begins on Monday, 29 October in Sydney.