Night Train Media-backed financier and distributor BossaNova has hired former Beyond Rights exec Claire Runham as its new head of acquisitions, in a move that sees her reuniting with ex-TCB Media Rights CEO Paul Heaney and other former colleagues.

Runham was most recently SVP of acquisitions at Beyond, which was acquired by Banijay in 2022. Its catalogue was then subsumed into Banijay Rights, with the team disbanded earlier this year, as revealed by TBI.

In her new role, Runham will lead the curation and development of BossaNova’s slate of collaborative projects, crafting and developing editorial in partnership with producers and supporting the sales team.

She rejoins other TCB alums including head of sales Holly Cowdery, commercial and business affairs director Claire Lowe, finance and operations director Charlotte Johnson and marketing manager Jasmin Joseph.

As part of the changes, Joseph has had her role expanded to become marketing and acquisitions manager, lending support to Runham’s department and sharing marketing intelligence with the producer community.

Runham spent five years as an acquisitions executive with Heaney’s team at TCB, until it was acquired by Beyond in 2020 following the collapse of its previous owner, Kew Media Group.

Before TCB, Runham worked at National Geographic Channels, the BBC and Banijay-owned Dragonfly Film & Television.

Heaney said: “It’s not just a delight for almost the whole BossaNova team to be starting to work with Claire again but it’s a benefit to the production community that cannot be understated. We’re looking forward very much to seeing the undoubted success.

“Combined with Jasmin’s promotion to work in the acquisitions team adding similar value through her marketing expertise, which is gold these days, BossaNova can now give the indies we work with, and those we hope to work with, something special to help build sustaining creative businesses.”

Runham added: “When Paul asked me to head up BossaNova’s acquisitions, I didn’t hesitate — and not just because being reunited with my ‘TCB family’ is an irresistible prospect. BossaNova is at a fascinating moment in its life cycle, moving from a start-up to a scale-up in a content market that is transforming by the day. Helping to drive the company into its next phase of development is also an irresistible professional challenge. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”