CEO Named for Syco Entertainment

LONDON/NEW YORK: The recently formed joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment, Syco Entertainment, has announced Ellis Watson as its CEO.

Reporting directly to Cowell, Watson will take on the global development of Syco Entertainment, its properties and commercial strategies. Watson, based in London, will oversee the expansion of Syco in the U.S., with the preparation for the launch The X Factor on FOX in 2011. Watson takes on the new role on April 26.

Watson has served at board level for John Menzies and FirstGroup for four years. In 2004, he was named managing director of Trinity Morror, overseeing editorial and commercial operations of its national newspaper titles. Prior to this, Watson was managing director of Celador International, where he led the commercial sales and exploitation of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? format.

Simon Cowell commented: "I’m delighted that Ellis will be joining Syco, his broad experience in TV and media will be a huge asset."

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, the CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, said: "I am pleased to welcome Ellis to the Syco team. He is a seasoned television executive who has the leadership skills and expertise to build the venture as it expands across platforms and markets around the world."

Watson said: "I’ve got the most exciting job in entertainment anywhere in the world—it’s not a vocation, it’s a calling."