Marco Bassetti joins Banijay as CEO

Former Endemol Worldwide president Marco Bassetti has joined Banijay. He will be CEO at the France-based producer and distributor, which has also acquired a 50% stake in his production company Ambra Multimedia.

Bassetti founded Endemol Italy in 1997 and was managing director and then president of Endemol Italy until 2004. In 2007 he returned to Endemol as COO and became president in 2009. He ran the production and distribution group during its restructuring before leaving in April 2012.

At Banijay he will oversee the company’s international businesses and expansion into new markets. The company has taken a half-share in his Italy-based production business Ambra, marking its expansion into the country.

Following the announcement, François de Brugada, who joined Banijay as executive VP when the company was founded in 2008, is promoted to COO of Banijay Group.

Stéphane Courbit said: “In five years Banijay’s growth and success has exceeded our expectations and it is time to bring in a strong new presence with the skills and the energy to help us achieve our goal of being one of the top three companies in our industry.”