Seven West exec Dustin Lockett joins BBC Worldwide as commercial director in restructure
The man who launched Seven West Media’s live events division, Dustin Lockett, is joining BBC Worldwide as commercial director after the media company created the new role in a reshuffle.
The move also marks the departure of director of business development, Robert Leach, whose role has been rolled into the new commercial brief.
Lockett set up Seven’s Red Live events division in 2014, working on a variety of Seven’s events, including Better Homes & Gardens Live, Ghost: The Musical and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The event’s specialist, who also worked at the now defunct Sydney theme park, Australia’s Wonderland, NIDA and IMG, will oversee both live events for BBC Worldwide in Australia as well as working on consumer products, home entertainment and brand licensing.
The creation of the commercial director role is part of an internal restructure that will also see streaming content such as SVOD handled within a different part of the business.
BBC Worldwide ANZ managing director, Jon Penn, said the appointment was aimed at getting greater value from the BBC’s brands, which include Dr Who, Sherlock and BBC Earth.
“Dustin has the experience and entrepreneurial flair to build our new areas of business and maximise the commercial value of our brands,” Penn said.
“He has worked on some of the biggest events in Australia, across the spectrum of commercial development, and I am delighted that he will be joining us to help deliver this strategic priority.
Lockett, who will start in November, said he saw a great deal of commercial opportunity in Australia with the BBC brands.
Other live shows Lockett has been involved with include Grand Designs, Masterchef, X Factor and Masterchef.
