Endemol Shine Group Unveils Distribution Arm

AMSTERDAM/LONDON: The newly formed distribution operation Endemol Shine International, led by Cathy Payne, brings together the teams from Shine International and Endemol Worldwide Distribution (EWD).

The arm will focus on finished programming distribution, featuring a wealth of owned and third-party content both in scripted and non-scripted. The combined business has regionally focused hubs in eight cities worldwide, including London, Los Angeles, Paris, Sydney, Miami and Moscow. It is also broadening its reach in Asia with new dedicated distribution offices in Singapore and Mumbai.

Matt Creasey, executive VP of sales and acquisitions, will head up distribution operations across the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Creasey is based in Los Angeles. Leading Endemol Shine International’s teams across the European region is executive director for Europe, Mark Lawrence. He is based in London. Also based in London are John Richards in the role of CFO and Jan Rowland, who becomes Endemol Shine International’s head of operations. Taking up new positions in Europe are James Braham, who becomes Endemol Shine International’s senior sales director for the U.K. and Eire, and Lisette Schlippe, who becomes senior sales director for Germany and major Central and Eastern Europe. 

In France, where Endemol’s and Shine’s operations remain independently operated and run as separate entities, the new distribution business will have an expanded presence with Shine International’s Priscilla Siney and EWD’s Solange Ribeiro-Murphy both continuing in their roles as senior sales directors for French Territories. 

Other markets where Endemol Shine International has expanded its reach include Australia and New Zealand, where EWD’s Kirsten Cargill and Shine International’s Lisa Higginson both retain their respective roles as senior sales director and sales director for the region, working out of Sydney. New external appointments will include a sales director for Asia, working out of Singapore and reporting to senior sales director for Asia, Rashmi Bajpai, who is based in the new distribution office in Mumbai. A new head of acquisitions, to be based in London, will be announced at a later time.

"Endemol Shine International brings together a global team of the highest caliber, uniting outstandingly talented people around the world from Shine International and Endemol Worldwide Distribution,” said Payne. “Our newly combined operation has a broader reach, with more regionally focused hubs led by world-class executives and a greater diversity of programming across genres to offer our broadcast partners worldwide.”

“Cathy has assembled an exceptionally strong team from the two merged distribution businesses,” said Boudewijn Beusmans, the group commercial officer of Endemol Shine Group. “Under her leadership and with an incredibly diverse combined catalogue, Endemol Shine International is ideally positioned to serve broadcasters and other platforms in every market.”