Today, the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE) announces the appointment of Marie-Claire Benson, EVP and Head of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate UK, and Ruth Sharp, Vice President & Head of Digital Distribution UK at Warner Bros. Discovery, as new Co-Chairs of BASE, effective immediately.
Marie-Claire Benson, recognised as an exceptional entertainment leader in the UK, oversees both theatrical and Home Entertainment operations at Lionsgate UK. Ruth Sharp, a key Commercial lead for Warner Bros. Discovery in the UK, moves over to Co-Chair BASE from her previous role as Co-Chair of the DEGI Board, bringing her wealth of expertise in digital distribution.
Their combined leadership will further invigorate and inspire the UK Home Entertainment sector, and champion the multiple BASE initiatives. BASE works to champion growth and innovation in the UK Home Entertainment sector, providing comprehensive insight and analysis across sector performance and audience behaviours, empowering members and partners to grow consumer engagement and fostering industry collaboration. BASE celebrates screen entertainment across all formats, ensuring sustainability and vitality in a rapidly evolving landscape. In January 2025, BASE shared the first insights of the year through its consumer Annual Statement, highlighting the growth of UK Home Entertainment to over £5bn for the first time, where visual forms the largest sector of the £12bn UK Entertainment Industry. With insights and community events already planned across the year, including celebrations of 45 years of Transactional Home Entertainment in the UK, this is a milestone year for the industry, recognising the transformative evolution of the sector in recent years.
Commenting on her appointment as Co-Chair, Marie-Claire Benson said: “Having worked with BASE for many years, I deeply value their contribution to the UK Home Entertainment industry. It’s a great honour to be Co-Chair, and I look forward to championing the diverse and important initiatives in store for 2025 onwards, from providing members with valuable insight and analysis and leveraging opportunities to drive revenue within the category, to keeping the category front of mind with consumers and retailers and nurturing younger talent to become the new leaders of tomorrow”
Ruth Sharp added: “I’m excited to be appointed as Co-Chair of BASE and to work with the BASE Team and Board as we continue to look for innovative & collaborative ways to drive consumer engagement & growth opportunities across UK Home Entertainment in 2025 and beyond.”
The BASE Council Co-Vice Chair positions will also see some change. Lesley Johnson, Global Director, Home Entertainment at BBC Studios will continue to bring her many years of experience in the Home Entertainment industry to the role of Co-Vice Chair. Ana Iglesias, Vice President, Digital Distribution (EMEA) at NBCUniversal will join Lesley as the new Co-Vice Chair. Ana oversees the development of NBCU strategic digital revenue growth opportunities across EMEA markets, is a current member of the Digital Entertainment Group Nordics (DEGN) Board and brings with her 25 years of experience in the UK Home Entertainment industry.
Commenting on her continuation as Co-Vice Chair, Lesley said: “I’m delighted to remain Co-Vice Chair of BASE, representing the British TV sector and I’m looking forward to working closely with Ruth, Marie-Claire and Ana in the years ahead.”
BASE would like to extend its deepest gratitude to outgoing BASE Chair Robert Marsh, Vice President, International Account Management & Sales and UK Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, for his exceptional leadership since 2021. During Rob’s tenure, BASE has navigated an unprecedented period of growth attained via a strategic vision that has driven the innovation and insights at the core of BASE, including the first-of-its-kind Theatrical and Home Entertainment Partnership GO BIG AND GO HOME, and expanding the BASE and DEGI community to 100 plus organisations, while navigating the complex challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 Writers’ and Actors’ strike. Rob will move across to join Johnnie Thompson (Vice President, Transactional Distribution, EMEA, The Walt Disney Company) as Co-Chair of DEGI.
On his time as BASE Chair, Robert said: “It has been a true privilege to serve as Chair of BASE for the last 4 years. This period has seen such a huge change from the pandemic to our recovery and stabilisation. We’ve seen significant changes to our landscape, at retail and with consumers, but the board has always maintained a singular focus on how we can best position the Home Entertainment sector for growth through delivering for our stakeholders, with consumers being paramount in this. I’d like to thank Liz Bales and the BASE team for making BASE a world-leading organisation, raising the bar every year, and my fellow board members for being brilliant contributors and colleagues.”
BASE extends its heartfelt thanks to Kevin Dersley, Managing Director at Elevation Sales, who is stepping down as Vice-Chair after 9 years in the role. Kevin’s unmatched expertise in the UK physical distribution landscape have been invaluable to the organisation, fostering collaboration across our industry. His ongoing passion for the industry and deep knowledge have left a lasting impact on BASE and the UK entertainment sector, and he will gratefully continue as he retains his place on Council and will spearhead BASE’s ongoing vision across physical formats and the vital and vibrant contribution of disc formats to sector strength.
On his time as BASE Vice Chair, Kevin said: “It’s been both a pleasure and a privilege to support Liz and my fellow Officers and I am extremely proud of the immense contribution BASE has made to the Home Entertainment sector in that time. I look forward to supporting our new Leadership team as they continue to ensure BASE drives engagement and growth in the sector.”
Liz Bales, Chief Executive of BASE said: “We kick off 2025 with an assured and invigorated leadership team within a bold and inclusive BASE Council. I’m excited to be working alongside Marie Claire, Ruth, Ana and Lesley as our distinguished officers. Their combined experience, leadership, and deep industry insight will be instrumental in the evolution and delivery of value to our members.
I want to sincerely thank both Rob and Kevin for their incredible contributions to BASE. Having worked side by side for so many years, I’ve seen firsthand the passion and dedication they’ve brought to every aspect of their work with the organisation and the wider Home Entertainment community. Their contribution to BASE has framed the momentum and inspiration behind our vision and many of our achievements over the years, and much of what we have accomplished would not have been possible without their guidance.”
Across 2025, BASE will continue to inform and empower the industry with a robust pipeline of market and behavioural insights, a range of events and sessions for members along with promotional activities, including, Digital Growth Summit, DEGI Roadshow, 45th BASE Awards, and the BASE & DEGI Annual Wrap & Industry Outlook. For more information on these activities and joining the ever-growing BASE community, please contact Louise Kean-Wood at [email protected].
BASE Council includes:
- Marie-Claire Benson – Lionsgate UK
- Rob Callow – Spirit Entertainment
- Kevin Dersley – Elevation Sales
- Johnnie Edwards – Warner Bros. Discovery
- Ana Iglesias – NBCUniversal
- Lesley Johnson – BBC Studios
- Scott Mitchell – The Walt Disney Company
- John Rodden – STUDIOCANAL
- Ruth Sharp – Warner Bros. Discovery
