Cindy Holland to exit Sister as it closes US office

The Split and Kaos indie Sister is shuttering its US office with Cindy Holland to leave her global chief executive role. 

Holland, who has been at the helm of the label for just over 15 months, is to take up a strategic advisory role to Skydance chief David Ellison ahead of the acquisition of Paramount – lending her expertise on streaming. 

Sister’s board has taken the decision to close the Los Angeles-based arm of its global outfit at the end of the year to focus on its UK core business, which is already profitable. The closure will affect 20 US-based staff across film and TV who have been notified. There will be no knock-on effect for its UK office. 

Sister will continue to try winning business in the US, but the move is acknowledgment of the downturn in the country and the competitive landscape for independent producers and studios. It will continue to invest in its interests with a US presence such as Greatest Night in Pop producer Dorothy St Pictures and podcast company Campside Media. 

Earlier this year, Sister topped Broadcast’s annual Indie Survey with turnover of £205.1m, a rise of 114%. Meanwhile co-founder Jane Featherstone recognised the difficulties of the industry and the good timing of some of the producer’s big shows 

Featherstone and fellow co-founder Elisabeth Murdoch will look to recruit for Holland’s replacement, with chief financial officer Chris Fry leading as interim chief exec while the search is ongoing.  

Since joining in July 2023, Netflix veteran and former originals chief Holland had recruited ex-colleagues at the streamer including Jane Wiseman as head of US television and president of strategy and business affairs Efrain Miron. 

The company recently announced creative partnerships with Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne and A Murder at the End of the World creatives Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, but it is understood there is no further update as to the outcome of those deals. 

Holland said: “Sister has always been synonymous with quality storytelling, creative integrity and an extraordinary team and I am very proud to have been a part of it. I’m grateful to Liz, Jane and the whole team for their partnership, and I look forward to collaborating with them on projects in the future.  

“I’ve had a longstanding relationship with David and the senior team at Skydance and I’m energised by the opportunity to work closely with them.” 

Murdoch said: “Cindy is a brilliant, talented executive and anyone would be fortunate to work with her. I’m truly grateful for her stewardship and her leadership, and hope we’ll collaborate together in a new capacity for many years. 

“These are challenging times for production companies, requiring difficult decisions. The Board believes, as I do, that we can significantly boost sustainable growth and strengthen our group by doubling down on our proven track record of successfully producing from the UK for a worldwide audience. 

“Our exceptional UK base for Sister film and television operations that sells and produces for the US and the world will be our model moving forward. I’m thankful for the work of the Sister US film and television team, and we will take care of them.” 

This year Sister has produced high-profile titles Good Grief, Kaos and Eric for Netflix, The Split: Barcelona for the BBC and upcoming drama Black Doves, also for Netflix. A few weeks ago, splashy Greek mythology tentpole Kaos received a wealth of online support after Netflix decided to cancel the Charlie Covell-created show after just one series.