Our Team

John Whittle is Managing Director of Lime Pictures and Wise Owl Films, having been promoted to the role in 2024 after joining the company as Finance Director in 2016. He leads the businesses’ strategic vision, operations, and commercial growth, working closely with the creative and production leadership across scripted, kids & family, animation and premium factual.

Partnering with Lime and Wise Owl creative leads, John has driven a period of ambitious expansion, having strengthened digital and commercial capabilities while nurturing a strong development slate and people-focused culture.

In 2025, Lime Pictures marked Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary as Channel 4’s flagship soap with the return within it of a vignette at Brookside Close.   Lime also launched its on-site L16 Studios in Liverpool, further enhancing its production infrastructure and housing part of the production for CBBC's Girl Troops vs Aliens for transmission 2026.  Netflix’s epic fantasy animation Wolf King also landed which received Children’s & Family Emmy nominations.  

Across Wise Owl Films, John has overseen continued success including the Our Farm Next Door franchise with Amanda Owen, the BBC Two music documentary strand When...Came to Britain and The Brontes by Anita Rani, Sisters of Disruption for Sky Arts.

Before joining Lime, John held senior international finance roles at NBCUniversal across its theatrical and home entertainment divisions, working in Sydney, Stockholm and London. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the ICAEW.