Stephen Kelley
Director, Distribution

Stephen S. Kelley is a multilingual distribution and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in the sales, acquisition, marketing and development of television programming for the international marketplace. With well-honed and seasoned management and administrative skills, he has a proven track record in contract negotiation, revenue generation and project management. He has also had considerable success in closing program deals with traditionally challenging territories, marking his early career with precedent-setting sales in the United States, France Germany and Latin America.

Prior to joining 9Story, Kelley was Senior Manager at CBC International Sales, where he was in charge of international and domestic distribution of the extensive CBC catalogue, specializing in quality drama, documentary and lifestyle series such as The Border, Heartland, Nature of Things and The Fifth Estate.

Previously Kelley was Head of International Sales and Acquisitions at Portfolio Entertainment Inc, a Toronto-based producer of award-winning children’s and family television series such as Groundling Marsh, RoboRoach and Carl². At Portfolio, he was responsible for building and marketing a catalogue of over 700 half-hours of television programming across broadcast, HV/DVD and mobile platforms.

Kelley has also served as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Salter Street Films International, producers of such award-winning television series as This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada, Emily of New Moon as well as Michael Moore’s satirical series The Awful Truth. In his position, he achieved many firsts for the producer and distributor, including entry into broadcast markets in the U.S. and France.

He began his career as Head of International Sales for Catalyst Distribution and its parent company Gullane Entertainment. In his post, he oversaw selected foreign territories for the producer of hit family series as Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Shining Time Station and Eckhart. At Catalyst, his aggressive approach to international program sales was reflected in the distribution and licensing agreements he forged in Germany, France, Italy and Latin America.