Coppermann takes control as Endemol Shine merges France

Endemol Shine is merging its French businesses with Nicolas Coppermann from the Endemol side of the operation taking charge, and Shine’s Thierry Lachkar leaving, TBI can reveal

France was the one international territory where the production and distribution giant had not unified its operations in the wake of its mega merger, and the subsequent creation of the Endemol Shine Group.

It has now brought both sides together, and Endemol Shine France is expected to be formally in operation early in 2017.

Coppermann, currently president of Endemol France will run the new division. Shine France president Thierry Lachkar, who has been in contract negotiations, will leave the company as a result of the restructure.

Shine’s French business has changed in recent weeks with ITV Studios announcing it will now make Talpa’s formats in the French market. These were previously made by Shine France.

Shine makes Talpa’s The Voice and The Voice Kids, which are currently on free-to-air commercial channel TF1. It also produces Talpa’s What Do I Know for free-TV net M6, and made Talpa’s Born to Bloom, which will go out soon on TF1.

ESG confirmed the changes. Soon-to-be Endemol Shine France boss Coppermann said: “The launch of Endemol Shine France will mean a genuinely exciting new chapter for the business here. It will unite creative, production and entrepreneurial talent who together have delivered some of the biggest hits to come out of the French market.

“Bringing us together will broaden our collective reach in the marketplace and further enhance our ability to bring the best ideas to life across different platforms and genres.”

Coppermann will report to Martha Brass, CEO international operations, Endemol Shine Group.

Endemol Shine Group CEO Sophie Turner Laing (left) said: “Moving forward, we believe that combining the considerable strengths of the Shine and Endemol teams in France under Nicolas will create a local powerhouse that is best positioned to deliver channel defining content to our customers and leverage future opportunities in the fast changing marketplace.”

“The process of bringing the two businesses together will now begin and we are incredibly excited about launching Endemol Shine France at the start of 2017 with Nicolas at the helm.”

The ESG boss also paid tribute to Lachkar, who is one of the best-known execs in the French TV market. “I want to pay tribute to Thierry’s superb leadership and all he has done to build Shine France into the world-class business it is today,” she said. “He has our deepest gratitude and will be missed here enormously when he goes.”

Lachkar said: “I have been in talks with the company about the future of Shine France for some time now and after exploring many different options, I have decided to step down as President of Shine France from early 2017.

“I am so proud of what we have accomplished altogether with 50 different programmes in all genres both in scripted and non scripted, across all channels, platforms and networks – making Shine France one of the biggest and well-respected production companies.”

He noted that Shine France has recently been ranked the number one French production company in the local press and added: “I wish Sophie Turner Laing along with her team the absolute best for the next chapter in the history of Endemol Shine in France.”