Crowd Network, a fast-growing Manchester audio-on-demand network, has welcomed Rob Roberts-Facey to its team as a senior producer, joining from the BBC.
Roberts-Facey previously worked as creative lead for BBC Sport, and also worked across Match of the Day, Sports Personality of the Year and sports documentaries for BBC One.
With over 11 years’ experience at the broadcaster, he has been involved in coverage of the biggest sporting moments of the last decade, from World Cups to the Olympics. In his new role he will work closely alongside Tom Fordyce, Crowd’s creative director, to develop a new division, Crowd Sports.
Crowd is already home to chart-topping podcasts The Geraint Thomas Cycling Club and The Joe Marler Show. It plans to officially launch the new sports division next year. Roberts-Facey and Fordyce will lead on the expansion of the network’s existing sport shows and development of new podcasts, with more high-profile sports stars set to join in 2022.
Crowd Sports will join the network’s two existing content divisions. Crowd Stories features the likes of critically acclaimed Murder In House Two and American Vigilante and brings trailblazing investigations and documentaries to life. Crowd People is home to podcasts including The Sam and Billie Show and Go Love Yourself, and promises to bring listeners closer to some of the most popular names in entertainment.
Since its 2020 launch Crowd has rapidly expanded from a launch team of four to a current team of 18, with further hires due later in the summer as the network chases its ambition to become Europe’s largest podcast network.
Mike Carr, CEO of Crowd Network, said: “As we expand the shows, talent and brands that we work with, we’re focused on having the right people in the team to support this, who have the drive and energy to push us forward. Rob in particular will be vital to developing our sports specialism.”
Roberts-Facey added: “[Crowd’s] productions are quality, and the focus on connecting listeners with the shows, hosts and people behind the podcasts is something I’ve always admired. I am incredibly excited to help take Crowd Sports to the next level.”
