Banijay Entertainment Confirms Post-Merger Leadership Structure

The newly-minted Banijay Entertainment has set out its senior leadership team following the merger with All3Media.

The Survivor and The Traitors company had already installed RedBird IMI CEO Jeff Zucker as Chairman, Marco Bassetti as CEO and Jane Turton as Deputy CEO, and today confirmed the next tier of management in an internal note to staff seen by Deadline.

There are no major surprises among the execs, who all report into Bassetti. Fred Balmary becomes Chief Business Officer; Nicolas Chazarain is Chief Legal Officer; Thomas Gousset is Chief Finance Officer; Lucas Green becomes Chief Content Officer, Operations; Kate Humphreys is Chief Communications Officer; James Townley is named Chief Content Officer, Development; and Anne Van Sprang is Chief Human Resources Officer.

There have been several major personnel changes since All3 owner RedBird IMI and Banijay Group merged their entertainment assets to form the $8B behemoth Banijay Entertainment. Primarily impacted have been execs on the distribution side, where Cathy Payne is CEO of Banijay Rights. All3 group COO Sara Geater also exited in the wake of the merger.

In his note to staff, Bassetti wrote: “Since their appointments, this group has made a significant contribution to the business, with many playing an integral role in delivering the merger and advancing the current integration – please join me in congratulating them as we embark on this next chapter.”

He added that Turton, Balmary, Chazarain, Gousset, Van Sprang and Payne were also joining the Banijay executive team. “We will formally introduce the team across the business as the integration progresses. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience as we continue through this period of change,” he added.

The news comes a week Banijay unveiled its supercharged business to the international market at MIPCOM Cannes last week, with Zucker and Bassetti taking to the stage to set out their plans. A push into U.S. scripted appears likely, along with more European co-productions and further entertainment launches.