Three Questions With Netflix U.Okay. Content material VP Anne Mensah

Whether or not Intercourse Training or a doc lens on Robbie Williams or David Beckham, whether or not The Crown or Black Mirror — London-based TV veteran Anne Mensah, vp, U.Okay. content material at Netflix, has stored bringing world followers the Brit hits since becoming a member of the streamer in 2018.

“The longer term is even stronger,” the previous BBC and Sky exec vowed on the Edinburgh TV Competition in August. She leads the streamer’s groups throughout all genres, from scripted sequence and movie to unscripted, documentaries and licensed applications. 

Among the many upcoming sequence from the group of the U.Okay. content material guru are Man Ritchie-produced-and-directed The Gents with Theo James in regards to the son of an English aristocrat whose inheritance sits on high of Europe’s largest weed farm, in addition to mythological darkish comedy Kaos, created by Charlie Covell (The Finish of the F***ing World). She was additionally named Britain’s third-most influential Black particular person on The Powerlist 2023.

For THR‘s function on the 35 Most Highly effective Girls in Worldwide Tv, Mensah shared ideas on the nice and the unhealthy of 2023, in addition to the way to additional enhance variety within the leisure business.

What was the most important skilled problem you confronted this previous 12 months?

Integrating all of the U.Okay. genres from licensing by way of factual to movie right into a single content material group. That mentioned, unbelievably good colleagues have additionally made it among the finest issues that has occurred all 12 months. We work as a collaborative, enjoyable and provoking unit, buying and selling concepts and information throughout all genres. It’s wonderful.

What do you see as your largest achievement of the previous 12 months?

We at the moment are in full flight with the Netflix U.Okay. slate and are delivering actual vary to our U.Okay. members.  Meaning guaranteeing a few of our largest franchises finish nicely — Intercourse Training, Prime Boy and The Crown — while persevering with profitable exhibits like Heartstopper, by way of launching new successes like our limiteds Obsession and Who Is Erin Carter? or main factual items, corresponding to At Residence With the Furies or our Lewis Capaldi movie How I’m Feeling Now. 

And we’ve received so many nice new commissions in manufacturing now, corresponding to Man Ritchie’s The Gents or Joe Barton’s Black Doves. I do know we’re going to go from power to power in 2024.

What must be completed to enhance equality and variety throughout the business?

Within the U.Okay., I’m keen on how we guarantee retention within the business for folks from historically underrepresented backgrounds. We’ve had 1000’s poured into entry-level schemes however I believe there’s actual energy in guaranteeing folks can keep and have long-term careers within the business. I’m additionally keen on fascinated by new methods of working — job sharing as an illustration — that may assist staff who’ve completely different pressures on their time or bodily talents.