Warner Bros poaches NBCU, Zodiak format execs

Warner Bros International TV Production has made two senior hires in its formats team, poaching executives from NBC Universal and Zodiak Media Group.

The international production division of the Hollywood studio has hired Ilan Astrug as vice president of acquisitions and Charlotte Raben as vice president, format sales.

Astrug, who joins from Zodiak where he was head of format acquisitions, will in charge of acquiring formats across the international market and will oversee third party representation and first look deals.  Warner Bros International TV Production already has deals with Outline Productions, TV Asahi and Vision Independent Productions and Astrug will be charged with expanding this.

Raben, meanwhile, joins from NBC Universal where she was vice president, format sales and international TV productions, worldwide. She will oversee the company’s format sales and will report to Tom McClelland, vice president, worldwide sales. She will initially be focused on format sales in Germany, France and Benelux.

The announcements were made by Andrew Zein, senior vice president, creative, format development and sales, Warner Bros International Television Production.