Joe Oppenheimer

Source: Screen file

Joe Oppenheimer

Joe Oppenheimer has joined Apple as a creative executive on the international creative development team.

The former acting head of BBC Films will report to Jay Hunt, creative director, Europe and will be based in London.

Oppenheimer spent 19 years in a variety of roles at the BBC before leaving in December

He oversaw more than 50 films and TV dramas, including I, Daniel Blake, Testament of Youth and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, among many others.

Hunt began working as Apple’s creative director, Europe, for its worldwide video division at the start of the year and Oppenheimer is her first hire. She was previously controller of BBC One and then chief creative officer of Channel 4. 

The company has yet to announce any project commissioned directly by Hunt but it is believed she has a number of projects in development, including a scripted comedy.

Hunt reports to former Sony Pictures Television duo Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, who joined Apple in Join 2017 as chief content officers and heads of worldwide video.

This year Apple have already announced deals with Oprah Winfrey, The Big Sick writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V Gordon and for the rights to Gregory David Robert’s best-selling novel Shantaram.