Ore Okonedo has been appointed the new Managing Director of The Sweetshop in London, as the company expands its UK office.

The multi-national production company, with offices in Sydney, Auckland, Bangkok and Los Angeles as well as London, has appointed Okonedo, former head of music video at Knucklehead, to lead its operations in the UK.

Meanwhile, former MD Morgan Whitlock has moved across from his previous role to a fulltime business development role at Sweetshop’s AI and VFX division The Gardening Club, which has grown quickly in the short time since its launch in 2024.

“Expanding in the UK during these unpredictable times is a milestone I’m extremely proud of," says The Sweetshop's Global CEO and Founding Partner, Melanie Bridge. "While much of the industry has been retracting, we have used the last few years to regroup, recalibrate, and put ourselves in a position of strength. Now, we are poised to grow once more.”

Bridge adds that Okonedo "brings exactly what we need right now: Fresh perspective, a real vision for what a production company should look like in 2026 and beyond, and a genuine love of this business. In this climate having a director roster is a huge responsibility that weighs on me every day. With Ore I trust they are in the best possible hands as he has so much energy and passion and the contemporary vision required right now.” 

Okonedo takes the reins at The Sweetshop in London to oversee traditional production, the next step in a career which has seen him work at every level of production from the time he quit a successful role as a head-hunter. He worked at Caviar and Pulse Films before joining Knucklehead nine years ago. He says that the enthusiasm of the people he met at The Sweetshop convinced him to take this new role.

“I felt a sense of unwavering enthusiasm and passion for The Sweetshop," says Okonedo. "I thought the humility and openness to have candid conversations from the get-go was refreshing.

“I relish this new chapter, to make my mark in the London office’s growth. The fundamentals are in place: a solid infrastructure, brand, history, and a great team and roster of directors. But I’m hoping to be the final piece in the jigsaw that completes and complements the London office.” 

Morgan Whitlock adds: “With Ore at the helm, this next chapter of The Sweetshop UK is about getting back to our roots and nurturing creative talent. In many ways, this is a passing of the baton. I can say with utter confidence that The Sweetshop is in fantastic hands with Ore.”

• More on The Sweetshop here