Independent Talent Group Launches Creator Studio With Hire of Deborah Turness

U.K. agency Independent Talent Group is launching a creator studio to be headed by Deborah Turness, who has joined as president of Independent Talent Studio.

Most recently, Turness was CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs and a member of the BBC board, and previously served as president of NBC News in the U.S., CEO of ITN and president of NBC News International.

Turness will be focused on “building original media brands, franchises and intellectual property,” Independent said. “Working alongside Independent’s established teams across talent, commercial and creative development, she will lead the growth of a new creative studio, bringing together world-class clients and the rapidly expanding creator economy, developing and owning original ideas across video, podcasts, social, newsletters, live experiences and emerging formats.”

Independent represents an “extraordinary breadth of creative talent,” it said, “across actors, writers, directors, presenters, comedians, producers and broadcasters. The studio will build on that platform, whilst also attracting a new generation of creators, experts and voices capable of building powerful, direct relationships with audiences.”

It added, “The ambition is to create a new engine within Independent for building, owning and growing media businesses around their clients.”

In May, delivering the 2026 Sir David Nicholas Memorial Lecture, “The Revolution Reshaping News: A Dispatch from the Frontline,” Turness described the rise of creator-led media as one of the most significant transformations the industry has faced.

In a statement, Turness said, “We are living through an extraordinary transfer of creative power – where time, trust and commercial revenues are moving from institutions to individuals. The growth and energy in the media market today is in human-to-human relationships, with deep engagement and value for both consumers and brands.

“I am immensely excited to be joining Independent Talent Group to build a studio where a broad range of talent can deepen connections with audiences and build their brands. This is a creative as well as commercial opportunity and I cannot wait to get started and to work with their brilliant team.”

Sally Long Innes, CEO of Independent Talent Group, said, “Independent has always been built around exceptional creative talent and the belief that our job is to help that talent realize its ambitions. The way our clients can build audiences, create ideas and ultimately own businesses is changing incredibly quickly.

“We are already investing in this area and Deborah joining us gives us the opportunity to accelerate those plans dramatically. She combines creative instinct, an extraordinary understanding of audiences and a track record of building and leading major media businesses.”

Duncan Heath, founder and chairman of Independent Talent Group, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Deborah to Independent. This is an important part of our wider ambition. We believe the boundaries between sport, entertainment, creators and culture are increasingly disappearing, creating exciting new opportunities for our clients, audiences and brands. We want Independent to be at the heart of that change, bringing together exceptional talent, ideas and commercial expertise to create new opportunities, build new businesses and shape what comes next.”