Senior Management Changes at Endemol Beyond

COLOGNE/AMSTERDAM/LONDON: Endemol Shine Group has appointed Michael Kollatschny to head Endemol Beyond Germany following the resignation of Georg Ramme.

Ramme is stepping down as both managing director of Endemol Beyond Germany and global managing director of Endemol Beyond International after seven years with the company. Kollatschny, who currently serves as head of TV and talent at Twitter Germany, has been named managing director of Endemol Beyond Germany, replacing Ramme. The company’s international digital business will continue to be led by Wim Ponnet, the group director of commercial and strategy.

Kollatschny’s new position is effective May 1. He will be based in Cologne, where he will work under Marcus Wolter, the CEO of Endemol Shine Germany and chairman for Northern Europe at Endemol Shine Group. Prior to joining Twitter, Kollatschny served as head of reality and documentaries at Endemol Germany and before that, he produced comedy and light entertainment for the company. Earlier in his career, he founded his own production company, Kollareuth Media, and held production roles with such German producers as creaTV, Brainpool and Fernsehmacher.

Ramme will be leaving the company in May following a handover period. He has been managing director of Endemol Beyond Germany since 2012, and became managing director of Endemol Beyond International two years later. He began serving as global managing director in 2015. During his time with the company, Ramme helped drive original programming, including the format franchise business for digital brands and the international partnership with AwesomenessTV.

Ponnet said: “We owe Georg huge thanks for all his brilliant work in establishing Endemol Beyond in Germany and helping to grow the business internationally into the award-winning, global digital video company it is today. When he leaves us in May, he will do so with all our very best wishes for the future. We couldn’t hope for a stronger successor in Germany than Michael whose experience spans multiplatform content creation, partnerships and talent relationships. He is returning to the company having previously held senior positions at Endemol Germany and we’re excited to be welcoming him back.”

Ramme added: “After seven fantastic years, I’m leaving one of the best companies in the world with an extraordinary digital video team as I wish to pursue my entrepreneurial career in a new environment. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together in building a global digital video company that continues to break ground in the market with international formats and award-winning branded content. I will miss my friends and colleagues here very much and wish them every possible success.”

Endemol Beyond is now updating its name to Endemol Shine Beyond to recognize the combined business of Endemol Shine Group.