MONTREAL — Montreal-based production and distribution company Cineflix Media announced this morning Chris Bonney (above), CEO of Cineflix Rights, will be retiring in mid-2021 following an extended transition period, during which the company will appoint his successor.
Bonney joined Cineflix Media in 2012 to lead Cineflix Rights, the company’s sales and acquisitions arm, which has grown into the UK’s largest independent television content distributor, with a roster of 100 creative producer partners, selling a catalogue of more than 5,000 hours of high-quality scripted and factual content to more than 500 broadcasters and platforms around the world, says the company’s press release announcing Bonney’s upcoming retirement.
“Over the last eight years, Chris has played a pivotal role in positioning Cineflix Media as a global content powerhouse. Under his skillful leadership, he has assembled a phenomenal team at Cineflix Rights and has drawn up a solid blueprint for enduring momentum and success. Chris is very well-respected by his colleagues and peers alike, and we’re sad that he will be stepping down. However, we are grateful that he will continue to drive the company forward while we recruit his successor. And of course, Chris will always remain part of the Cineflix family,” said Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck, co-founders and co-CEOs of Cineflix Media, in the press release.
During his time at Cineflix Rights, Bonney increased the company’s third-party slate to almost 50% of its overall portfolio and brought in innovative financing models to help producer partners, including Cineflix Productions, deliver creative and commercial hits for international audiences.
“He has overseen the company during a time of major expansion of its scripted activities, with recent sales deals for international titles such as Tehran, Marcella, Happily Married, The Minister, and An Ordinary Woman alongside the worldwide roll-out of Cineflix Studios’ Coroner and Wynonna Earp to existing broadcasters and new streaming platforms,” reads the press release.
Leading a 30-member team, Bonney has also significantly grown Cineflix Rights’ factual slate, including helping to establish Property Brothers as a global TV franchise, delivering long-running hits such as Border Security and Food Factory, and creating successful partnerships with producers such as LMNO, Windfall Films, Finestripe, Scott Brothers Entertainment, and Hoff Productions, says the release.
“Cineflix Rights is now well placed as a distributor with a highly successful scripted business alongside its longstanding factual operations,” said Bonney. “After 35 years in the industry, it feels like the right time for me to make a move to a new phase in life, and for a new hand to take the company to its next stage. I’ve really enjoyed working with such a talented and friendly team over the past eight years as well as the many incredibly creative producers and broadcasters I’ve had the opportunity to deal with during my time here. I’d also like to thank Glen and Katherine for all their support over the years. As I’ll be around for a while yet, it’s more The Long Goodbye than Short Cuts before I head off to the golf course and experience parts of the world I’ve always wanted to visit!”
