Maker EVP to lead Endemol Beyond USA

Maker Studios programming chief Bonnie Pan has joined Endemol Beyond USA as president.

She technically replaces Will Keenan, who left Endemol Shine North America’s digital production and multichannel network last year. Company COO Adrian Sexton has been interim president since the departure in August last year.

Sexton, who joined Endemol Beyond USA after leaving Participant Media, will continue as COO, with Pan reporting into Endemol Shine North America president, digital, brand and audience development Vivi Zigler.

Pan (pictured) was Disney-owned Maker Studios’ executive VP, programming, overseeing production of gaming, lifestyle, family and entertainment shows totalling 70 projects.

She was behind a major deal for late-night comedy programming on History Channel in the US, and signed strategic partnerships with James Franco, Will.i.am and Morgan Spurlock’s Warrior Poets.

Pan joined Maker in August 2014, having previously been head of global programming and audience development at Yahoo! Video. She had joined Yahoo! in 2009 and went on to establish its first original programming team.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has made a bigger mark over the last decade in developing and successfully launching original content in the digital space than Bonnie Pan,” said Endemol Shine North America co-CEOs and Endemol Shine Americas co-chairmen Charlie Corwin and Cris Abrego.

Endemol Beyond USA sits within Endemol Shine North America, though its parent, Endemol Beyond, is based in Germany. The American division counts Michelle Phan’s Icon Network ad eSports channel Smasher Network among its assets.

“As digital content experiences a period of transformation and hyper growth, Endemol Shine is uniquely positioned to define new creative formats for storytelling and develop innovative partnership frameworks with brands, distribution partners and creators,” said Pan.

Endemol Beyond launched in 2013, and has gone on to become a key player in the global MCN space.