Senior Executives Continue to Depart Following the Banijay Merger
As the dust settles following the completion of the merger between All3Media International’s parent company, RedBird IMI, and Banijay, another high-ranking executive has announced their departure from the newly formed entity. Jonathan Hughes, All3Media International’s long-serving sales lead for German-speaking Europe, France, and Benelux, is leaving to join ITV Studios (ITVS) as Vice President, Germany and Benelux Sales.
Hughes, who spent ten years at All3Media International, has been instrumental in expanding the company’s German co-production footprint. During his tenure, he secured pivotal deals for Van Der Valk, The Assassin, The Tourist, Boarders, and Generation Z, and oversaw format launches for The Traitors, Race Across the World, and Gogglebox.
Before joining All3Media International, Hughes spent eight years as Sales Manager at factual specialist Optomen International, whose parent company, Optomen, was acquired by All3 in 2010 for £40M ($53.7M).
New Appointments at ITV Studios
ITV Studios has also made a significant move by promoting Louisa Forsyth to become Vice President, UK and Ireland Sales. Forsyth has been with the company since 2018 and previously worked at Sky, which is set to acquire ITVS’s parent company, ITV.
Both Hughes and Forsyth will report to Jemma Harvey, ITVS’s EVP, EMEA & UK Sales and Distribution. The appointments follow a series of hires in ITVS’s unscripted team, including Zack Wallace, Director, Unscripted, US & LATAM; Eliana Barbosa, Senior Sales Manager, Unscripted, Italy, Iberia, and CEE; and Ben Nohr, Sales Manager, Unscripted, France and Germany. Additionally, Lucy Pryke was promoted from Sales Executive, Nordics, to Sales Manager, Unscripted, Nordics and Benelux.
The Impact of the Banijay Merger
The merger between All3Media International’s parent company, RedBird IMI, and Banijay has created the world’s largest production studio outside of the U.S. majors. The combined entity will bring together two major program distribution businesses, with Banijay’s management signaling that they will look to make savings from the unit. The merger has already resulted in the departure of several high-ranking executives, including All3Media International’s long-serving CEO, Louise Pedersen.
Cathy Payne, Banijay’s sales boss, is leading the newly formed unit as Chief Exec. The UK trade Broadcast has reported that Banijay CEO and Executive Director, Patrick Holland, is expected to take over the UK business, which will comprise 65 production houses.
The impact of the Banijay merger on the global television production industry is still unfolding, and it remains to be seen how the newly formed entity will navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
