KM Appoints France Télévisions Alum as CEO

Factual label KM, part of Banijay France, has tapped former France Télévisions executive Catherine Alvaresse as its new CEO, effective immediately.

Alvaresse will define and oversee the factual label’s strategy. Aiming to strengthen the portfolio of projects in development, she will focus particularly on ramping up the label’s documentaries and current affairs programming.

The new CEO will work closely with Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO at Banijay France, and will work hand-in-hand with the existing team of producers on titles such as the new Karl Lagerfeld documentary, Révélation, set to air on Canal+ this month, as well as other major docuseries in the pipeline and long-running daily current affairs series 28 minutes for Arte.

Alvaresse brings over two decades of industry expertise with France Télévisions, Image & Compagnie, Off the Fence, Télé Images Group, Arte France and France 2. Several documentaries greenlit by Alvaresse have received awards, including the Albert Londres Prize and two International Emmys in 2020 and 2022. Last year, l’Affaire d’Outreau received the Special Commendation from the jury at the Prix Europa Awards.

“For this role, we actively sought a personality with extensive international and broadcaster experience,” Laroche-Joubert noted. “Catherine’s past work with Arte and France Télévisons uniquely positions her to maintain and strengthen KM’s longstanding relationships with them. Her industry know-how, impressive credits, vast talent network and expertise in building compelling topics for broad audiences make her the ideal person to bolster KM’s position in the high-end factual space. She will also further develop the current affairs programming by collaborating with the teams behind 28 minutes.”

Alvaresse commented: “KM stands out in the industry for creating and producing compelling and powerful factual programming, from real-life stories and documentaries to magazine formats. The company is well-positioned in the market, and with a strong appetite from viewers, I look forward to joining the next phase of growth, bringing my ideas and ambition to create content for audiences in France and internationally.”