Banijay’s Cris Abrego to Receive Premio Ícono TV Latina 2022

World Screen will present Banijay’s Cris Abrego with the Premio Ícono TV Latina 2022 at the NATPE Miami Marketplace + Conference in January 2022.

Abrego has served as chairman of the Americas for Banijay and president and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings since November 2020. He oversees six different labels in the U.S. (Endemol Shine North America, Bunim/Murray Productions, Authentic Entertainment, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment and Stephen David Entertainment) and two labels in Latin America (Endemol Shine Boomdog in Mexico and Endemol Shine Brasil in São Paulo). Banijay Americas recently announced the launch of a new production studio, Banijay Mexico and U.S. Hispanic.

The award will be presented, in partnership with NATPE, during the conference’s annual Latin American Summit on January 20 following a one-on-one discussion with World Screen’s group editorial director, Anna Carugati.

Abrego previously served as CEO of Endemol Shine North America and chairman of Endemol Shine Americas. Originally joining Endemol Shine North America in 2014 as co-CEO, he added oversight of the company’s Latin American operations as co-chairman of Endemol Shine Americas in 2016. Abrego is also the co-founder and former chief executive of Endemol Shine-owned studio 51 Minds Entertainment. He began his career in unscripted TV at Bunim/Murray 20-plus years ago, working with his mentor and friend Jonathan Murray. Abrego and Murray have launched an internship initiative with the Television Academy Foundation aimed at bringing more minorities into careers in reality TV. Last December, Abrego was elected as the first Latino chairman of the Television Academy Foundation.

“Cris has been a trailblazer in the unscripted content business, a champion of diversity and inclusion, and a driving force behind Banijay’s innovative content investments across Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market,” says Ricardo Guise, the president and publisher of World Screen. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating again with JP Bommel and his team at NATPE to celebrate Cris’s achievements and spotlight the wealth of content his teams are developing across the diverse territories he oversees at Banijay.”

“As NATPE Miami 2022 gears up for a return in person this coming January, I am thrilled that through our continued partnership with our friends at World Screen we are able to honor Cris Abrego with the third edition of the Premio Ícono,” says JP Bommel, NATPE’s CEO and president. “His leadership, not only as a television executive but for making inclusion and diversity a top priority throughout his career, sets an example for the entire industry. We also recognize his contributions as the first Latino spearheading the unscripted diversity internship program as the chairman of the Television Academy Foundation.”