Sister Group Appoints Banijay’s Former U.K. Boss Lucinda Hicks as CEO, Ups Chris Fry to COO

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It’s been announced that Lucinda Hicks is now serving as CEO for Sister Group, the rapidly ascending creative powerhouse founded by Elizabeth Murdoch and Jane Featherstone.

Located in London, Hicks, who previously served as CEO at Banijay UK, will spearhead the strategic planning and supervise the implementation of an independent studio, along with its expanding roster of affiliate businesses. Simultaneously, Chris Fry, the current Group CFO and interim CFO, has been advanced to a new position titled Group COO, which encompasses his existing responsibilities as CFO.

The appointments are scheduled, which comes after Sister’s decision at the close of 2024, following CEO Cindy Holland’s departure. This decision was made to transfer the company’s entire operation from the United States to the United Kingdom.

Hicks and Fry are set to collaborate closely with Sister London, the esteemed production unit responsible for hit shows like “Black Doves” and “This is Going To Hurt”, with Featherstone still at the helm. This team, which also includes Chris Fry in his newly appointed role as managing director, continues to guide their projects.

Lucinda is stepping into a thrilling phase of Sister’s development, as our worldwide TV and film operations are now managed from the United Kingdom,” stated Murdoch. “She is one of the most gifted creative executives of her generation, boasting experience in running independent studios and groups, nurturing creative talent, launching new ventures, and driving significant mergers and acquisitions. Her international perspective, a valuable asset for our future, aligns perfectly with her skillset and background. I couldn’t be more pleased that she will lead us in our next phase, and with the expert guidance of Chris Fry at our side. He has skillfully steered us as interim in recent months, and his support for our partners since the beginning has been priceless.

Before taking up her position at Banijay U.K., which she left in 2022, Hicks held the role of COO at Endemol Shine UK. In this position, she managed a collection of over twenty production companies and played a key role in the global distribution of their intellectual properties successfully. Since 2022, she has been providing counsel to various media firms such as Sister and Channel 4.

She stated that ‘Sister’ symbolizes greatness and stands out for its extraordinary creativity within the remarkable group of businesses. I’ve personally witnessed how this reputation is well-deserved, and their relentless drive to surpass themselves is a trait that perfectly fits Liz and Jane. It’s invigorating to be joining them, along with Chris Fry and the exceptionally skilled Sister team, in this position during such an exciting period.

Simultaneously, Fry moved to join Sister in the year 2019, transitioning from Endemol Shine Australia – a company renowned for producing successful shows like “MasterChef,” “Australian Ninja Warrior,” “Survivor,” and “Gogglebox.” While at Endemol Shine Australia, he served as the Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the merging of Endemol and Shine businesses in 2015.

He stated his enthusiasm about collaborating with Lucinda once more, as they both help creative minds and grow businesses, during a period full of potential for the company.

Under the umbrella of Sister now reside various businesses such as documentary specialists Dorothy St Pictures, animation studio Locksmith Animation, unscripted content company Yes Yes Media, music venue Koko in London, podcast production studio Campside Media, publishing enterprise Zando, and comic book, film, and television production studio AWA Studios.

As a fellow appreciator, let me express my admiration for Lucinda’s exceptional abilities. Having collaborated with her at Shine Group and subsequently through our consultations, I am confident about the sharp intellect, inspiring leadership, and significant influence she will bring to her new role. This was my experience as shared by Featherstone.

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2025-05-01 16:18