Lucinda Hicks Unveiled as Sister Group’s New CEO: A New Era Begins

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The film production company known as Sister (behind projects such as Black Doves, Eric, Chernobyl, and This Is Going to Hurt), which was established by Jane Featherstone (chief creative officer), Elisabeth Murdoch (executive chair), and Stacey Snider, has appointed Lucinda Hicks as the CEO of Sister Group. This announcement was made public on Thursday.

The previous CEO of Banijay U.K., who additionally served as COO at Endemol Shine U.K. (both based in London), and was previously the head of TV production company Dragonfly, has also been working with Sister and other entities like Channel 4 since 2022, in an advisory role.

In her position as CEO, Sister stated that Hicks would be responsible for setting the strategic course and monitoring the implementation of it at the autonomous studio and its associated companies.

On a thrilling Thursday, I stepped up into a double role – promoting from Global CFO to the brand-new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). It’s an exciting challenge that takes me one step closer to shaping the future of gaming!

Since the exit of Cindy Holland towards the end of last year, Fry has been holding the position of interim CEO. Given the decline in global TV production, Sister has decided to focus on the profitable sectors of its business and close down its Los Angeles office by the end of 2024.

According to Sister, the appointments are in line with the decision made towards the end of 2024 to transfer group operations from the U.S. and manage global sales from the U.K. It’s important to note that Fry’s promotion is unrelated to Chris Fry’s recent appointment as managing director at Sister London last month.

At a collaborative level, the duo of Hicks and Fry will work hand-in-hand with Sister London, the production powerhouse known for hits like Black Doves, Eric, and The Split. This partnership is still under the guidance of Featherstone and the current leadership group.

Lucinda steps into the role at an exhilarating juncture as Sister’s growth continues, with our worldwide TV and film operations now being managed from the U.K., our creative partner businesses thriving and demonstrating immense potential,” Murdoch stated. “She is one of the most gifted creative executives of her generation, boasting experience in running independent studios and groups, a history of fostering creative talent, launching new ventures, and overseeing significant mergers and acquisitions, and an inherent global outlook – a combination of skills and background ideally equipped to guide us into our next phase.

Featherstone remarked: “We are a company driven by creativity, and Lucinda is an ardent supporter of creative minds. Having collaborated with her not only at Shine Group but also through her consulting work for us, I am confident that her intelligence, leadership, and influence will be invaluable in her new position.

According to Hicks, “Sister embodies excellence and is uniquely distinguished by the remarkable creativity of its various companies. I’ve personally witnessed how this reputation is well-deserved, and the drive to consistently set new standards is relentless and truly reflects Liz, Jane, and Chris Fry. It’s inspiring to be part of their team and the exceptionally gifted Sister group.

Sister collaborates with self-governing businesses in both the U.K. and the U.S., expanding its involvement. For instance, it recently amplified its financial support for Dorothy St Pictures, a company that produced hit shows like The Greatest Night in Pop and Pamela: A Love Story. It also teams up with British animation studio Locksmith Animation (That Christmas), innovative non-scripted TV and technology entertainment company Yes Yes Media, legendary London music venue Koko. In the U.S., Sister has backed podcast studio Campside Media, Molly Stern’s publishing endeavor Zando, Unanimous Media, basketball star Stephen Curry’s content studio, and comic book, film, and TV studio AWA Studios.

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2025-05-01 16:28