Narrative Entertainment appoints two new key roles
February 27, 2024
Narrative Entertainment is expanding its management team as it continues its growth trajectory following a successful 2023.
Kate Gartland will oversee the Narrative Entertainment marketing teams, working across both their GREAT! brand of movies and entertainment channels and kids’ offerings Tiny Pop, POP and POP MAX across both broadcast and digital platforms.
A creative marketer with over two decades of experience across creative agency, TV broadcast and corporate communications, Gartland is a TV veteran that notably oversaw Channel 5’s launch of Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother and Dallas. She led BBC World News’ rebrand internationally and worked domestically across all BBC News digital touchpoints during Brexit and many General Elections.
She joins Narrative from PMI Global Studio where she was a founding partner of the in-house agency, notably securing editorial partnerships with Google and Meta and responsible for education based integrated paid campaigns globally.
Gartland said: “I’m thrilled to join the Narrative Entertainment family and return to my heartland love of TV. Narrative is bucking the trend with bumper growth in 2023 and enjoyed by 4 in 5 of the UK’s population annually. I’m excited to join this innovative team and help drive even further growth and creativity in 2024 and beyond, giving UK audiences what they love…Great! TV”.
Meanwhile, Jacob Ahlin will head up and develop Narrative’s digital strategy following its growth in the FAST space last year, the launch of on-demand service the GREAT! player and continued success of the POP Player.
Ahlin joins Narrative Entertainment from A+E Networks where he held the position of Director of Digital Propositions, a role that saw him build, launch and scale digital products in partnership with Amazon, Apple, and Google. Prior to this, Ahlin’s career included launching branded services for DreamWorks, British Telecom, Discovery, and Disney.
Ahlin commented: “Narrative’s digital presence grew in 2023 with the launch of the POP Player, GREAT! Player and FAST channels across an array of platforms – this led to an impressive +400 per cent growth in digital ad impressions year-on-year. I’m excited to join the Narrative Entertainment family and help drive even further growth by expanding the reach of our brands and content to the widest possible audience.”
Paul Dunthorne, Managing Director of Narrative Entertainment, added: “I am delighted that both Kate and Jacob are joining us at this exciting time at Narrative Ent. They add an impressive array of leadership skills and experience whilst being hugely complementary to the Senior Management Team as we build on the gains of last year.”