- Hires new Managing Director Allison Todd
- Replaces Kristina Obradovic after her decision to leave in 2016
- Opens Scotland base – Creative Director Jamie Lochhead
- Expands EP team – Executive Producer, Dan Kendall
6th March 2017: Windfall Films, part of Argonon, has announced its new Managing Director Allison Todd, following Kristina Obradovic’s decision to leave the award-winning production company after 16 years.
The announcement comes alongside the opening of Windfall Scotland with Jamie Lochhead as Creative Director, and also the hire of Executive Producer, Dan Kendall, who will be looking after a mix of broadcast and new technology projects.
Kristina Obradovic, who made the decision to leave Windfall in September 2016, is planning to take some time out with her family before considering her next role. She will hand over to Todd in March 2017.
Allison Todd brings over 18 years of production and management experience to the role, most recently as Head of Production for ITN Productions. With a career spent at major UK and international indies, she has worked on many primetime hits, International Emmy and BAFTA award-winning programmes including Maverick’s How to Look Good Naked, Embarrassing Bodies and CBBC’s BAFTA-winning Operation Ouch!, where she was Head and Director of Production. Previously, as Cineflix’s Head of Production, Todd oversaw all production in the UK and Canada, helping take the company through a period of rapid expansion. Prior to Cineflix, she was at IWC Media, as Acting Deputy Head of Production/Production Executive where she managed the majority of the output from their Scottish office.
David Dugan, CEO of Windfall Films says: “We are looking forward to working with Allison. She joins us at an exciting time when we are launching Mutiny, an ambitious genre-busting new series on Channel 4. As our international business in Canada, France and the USA grows – her extensive experience in international co-production will be invaluable.”
Allison Todd says: “Windfall is a company I’ve always admired. Their factual output continues to be bold and distinctive – and I want to help them experiment in new areas of production. I’m joining them at a time when they are developing some highly ambitious projects and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
On her decision to leave Windfall Films, Kristina Obradovic says: “My time at Windfall has been an absolute pleasure and I’ve really enjoyed helping to build the company into a thriving business, but I’ve come to the very difficult decision that it’s time to move on. Windfall has been such an important and fulfilling part of my life. I’ve loved working with the fantastic team here and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved. I intend to spend some time out with my family this year while I consider what my next adventure will be.”
David Dugan adds: “Kristina played a pivotal role in making Windfall what it is today. As well as being a caring manager, her legendary negotiating skills and persuasive powers have to be seen to be believed. Kristina has been – and will always be – an incredibly loyal Windfaller and friend. We wish her well and hope she brings her amazing energy and commitment to a new challenge.”
Todd will start at Windfall Films full time from 20th March. Obradovic’s last day is 6th March.
Windfall also announces it is setting up new base in Scotland and has appointed Jamie Lochhead as Creative Director for Windfall Scotland.
Lochhead is a director and executive producer with a reputation for innovative and ambitious programme making. Most recently he wrote, produced and directed Inside Einstein’s Mind (nominated for two 2016 Documentary Emmy Awards and a 2016 Grierson Award), directed the short film The Hole with Sir David Attenborough and created Einstein100, an online animation with David Tennant with 1 million views. As exec and series producer, his other projects include Born In The Wild for Channel 4 and PBS, The Wonder Of Dogs for BBC Two, Easter Eggs Live (2013 Grierson Award shortlisted), Foxes Live (2013 BAFTA Craft Award nomination, Broadcast Digital Award) and, as director, Inside Nature’s Giants (BAFTA and RTS Award).
David Dugan says: “We were always keen that Jamie should set up Windfall Scotland. We are delighted he has now launched a Windfall base in Edinburgh. Jamie is a highly-talented director and executive producer, who played a key role in Windfall’s multi-platform live events and directed some of the most memorable episodes of Inside Nature’s Giants.“
Jamie Lochhead says: “I’m excited to be setting up Windfall Films Scotland and continuing Windfall’s long tradition of innovative film-making and blue chip science film production. The success of recent Windfall projects such as the BAFTA-winning The Murder Trial and the Emmy-nominated Inside Einstein’s Mind – both filmed in Edinburgh – highlight the potential of working here in Scotland.”
Expanding Windfall’s Executive Producer team, Dan Kendall will be looking after several major series that tackle archaeology and cosmology in exciting new ways.
With nearly 20 years’ production experience, Dan Kendall has a reputation for delivering award-winning, high impact, visual storytelling for both UK and US broadcasters. Working across bold live events such as Surgery Live (Broadcast Digital Award, nominated for Banff Rockie Award), Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial (AIB Science Award) for Channel 4, and History Channel’s drama-based mega-documentary Mankind: The Story of All of Us (Emmy-nominated) to BBC Two’s The Virtual Revolution (International Digital Emmy, BAFTA New Media Award). Kendall co-exec produced Windfall’s, CGI-driven, hit archaeology format Unearthed for Discovery’s Science Channel and is a specialist in finding innovative ways to seamlessly mix live-action and CGI elements. His current slate includes projects for the BBC, Discovery, CBC Canada and More4.
David Dugan says: “When it comes to managing complex subject matter in an entertaining way – Dan is the man. He’s a great story teller and loves the challenge of outrageously ambitious CGI.”