Deepak Dhar Forms New Outfit CreAsia Studio

Deepak Dhar, founder and CEO of Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, has formed the new outfit CreAsia Studio to focus on growth in the Southeast Asia region.

The new production studio will produce Banijay format adaptations and local originals. Jessica Kam-Engle has been tapped as the executive VP and business head of CreAsia Studio, with a focus on driving the strategy and growth in the key markets of Southeast Asia.

This includes growing the business in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.

Kam-Engle has more than 20 years of experience working in the region. Most recently, she was head of content and development for Disney+ in AsiaPac, a role in which she commissioned more than 60 scripted and non-scripted original series, including the Korean dramas Moving, Big Bet, and Connect; the Japanese live-action Gannibal; the Chinese series Taiwan Crime Stories and Delicacies Destiny; and the Bahasa series Wedding Agreement, Mendua, Call My Agent and Teluh Darah.

From 2017 to 2021, Kam-Engle was head of original production for HBO Asia, overseeing its original productions across the region in ten languages. Prior to that, she was an independent film producer based out of Beijing and Hong Kong.

Talking about the development, Deepak said, “Given Jessica’s unparalleled experience in the Asian market, Banijay’s global IPs and marquee concepts, exciting local collaborations and a focus on India as a production hub for the region, CreAsia Studio is our next growth engine,” Dhar said. “We’re confident of Jessica’s leadership to steer us toward a leading presence in the region. Her appointment is also a testament to our commitment to tapping into newer markets and diversifying our portfolio in the vibrant Southeast Asian entertainment sector.”

Kam-Engle added, “It’s my privilege to join the Banijay family, and I am excited to lead the strategic expansion in Southeast Asia. There are vast opportunities to develop local and global IPs with the pool of creative talent from this region, leveraging Banijay’s world-class content production expertise and its global distribution clout. I am looking forward to exciting collaborations with key players in the region.”