BBC Studios and UKTV have named Karin Marelle as Global Head of Acquisitions.

This will put her in charge of both operations’ global buying teams, which acquire content for British multichannel operator UKTV and across BBCS’s global channels and BBC-branded SVOD services in the UK, EMEA and (Asia Pacific). BBCS owns UKTV.

Marelle joins on February 17 following a period as a co-productions consultant. She was previously at Starz/Lionsgate, where she was Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-productions between 2020 and 2024. She takes the role following the June 2025 passing of Melanie Rumani, who had held the same Head of Global Acquisitions role.

“Harriet Armston-Clarke, UKTV and BBCS Senior Global Acquisitions Manager and Sophie Judge, who stepped up when Armston-Clarke’s went on maternity leave, had covered Rumani’s role in the interim. We revealed Judge had joined from Sky earlier in the year.

“The past few months have been difficult as we continue to navigate the loss of our incredible colleague Mel Rumani, and I’m immensely proud of how the BBC Studios and UKTV Global Acquisitions team has come together to continue to drive the business forward,” said Steve North, Chief Content Officer at UKTV.

“As we look to the future, I’m delighted that Karin Marelle is joining the business to lead the team. Her vast experience in the industry, coupled with her strategic approach and passion for television, make her the ideal candidate for the role and we can’t wait to have her on board.”  

In her role at Starz/Lionsgate, Marelle oversaw acquisitions strategies across Europe and Lat Am, acquiring the likes of Gangs of London and Normal People. She also brokered pre-buys and co-productions for Mary & George and The Couple Next Door, and at UKTV/BBCS, she will report into North.

Marelle said she was joining at a “transformative time for the business.”

“UKTV is going from strength to strength in both performance and ambition, so it’s a great time to be leading our acquisitions strategy and contributing to the continued growth of U and the linear channels globally,” she added. “I look forward to working with our talented teams and distribution partners to bring even more unmissable shows to our audiences in the UK and beyond.”

In her most recent role as a consultant, she worked with international distributors and broadcasters on a range of shows. Earlier in her career, she held acquisitions roles at AMC Networks, ITV and BBCS predecessor BBC Worldwide.