Exclusive: Banijay Rights new-look distribution structure revealed  

Cathy Payne

Banijay Rights has restructured its sales operation following the acquisition of Endemol Shine Group with a host of changes around the world, TBI has learned. 

The giant distribution arm, which is headed up by former Endemol Shine International (ESI) CEO Cathy Payne, has a catalogue of almost 90,000 hours with brands ranging from Survivor and MasterChef to Mr Bean and Grantchester.

The new-look team will continue to be headquartered out of London, with local offices around the world including in Paris, Moscow, Sydney, LA, Miami, Mumbai and Singapore.

EMEA expansion

Former Banijay Rights CEO Tim Mutimer, who took up a new role as EVP of EMEA sales & acquisitions earlier this year, will head up a team including Chris Stewart, Claire Jago and Matthew Hodges. Stewart, who has been appointed as SVP for UK & Ireland, was previously commercial director for scripted at Banijay Rights, and is joined at the giant distribution firm by Jago, the former senior sales director for Nordics who is now SVP of Nordics.

Tim Mutimer

Hodges, ESI’s former sales director for Germany territories, becomes SVP of German-speaking EMEA; Banijay’s VP of sales duo Elliott Chalkley and Alex Le Merle become SVP for Italy & Iberia and SVP of Benelux respectively; and Paris-based Isabelle Queme remains SVP for French-speaking EMEA.

Other changes see Samia Moktar becoming VP for CEE & airlines, having most recently been sales manager at Banijay Rights; ESI’s Marion Vergnaud is VP for Greece, Turkey, Romania & Baltics; fellow ESI exec Robin Pollok has been appointed VP for Middle East, Israel & Africa; and Alexander Rubanov is VP for Russia & CIS, with CEE support by Tatjana Kostovski. Shaun Keeble is VP of digital.

Acquisitions additions & exits 

There have also been changes to the formats and acquisitions team, with Simon Cox, who was most recently ESI’s head of acquisitions, now becoming SVP of acquisitions. He will work with Emily Elisha, who is named VP of acquisitions, having been head of factual at Banijay Rights previously.

TBI understands that Andreas Lemos, Banijay Rights’ commercial director for factual, is among senior execs leaving, with his remit now falling under Elisha and Cox. Banijay Rights’ VP of sales Ole Steen Stolberg is also understood to be departing, as is Fabrizio de Leo, who oversaw Italy and Iberia for Endemol Shine.

Asia & Americas 

Appointments in Asia include ESI’s Rashmi Bajpai confirmed as EVP for the region, alongside Daryl Kho, who is SVP for Asia – Formats, and Kanchan Samtani, who becomes VP of Asia and will handle finished tape.

Matt Creasey

Lyle Bettson-Barker is SVP for Australia & NZ and Kell Hoddinott becomes VP of Australia & NZ, while Veronique Verges takes the role of SVP for Lat Am finished tape. Endemol Shine alum Michelle Wasserman has been named SVP for Lat Am formats, and Lauren Farrar is VP for AVOD & US Minor.

Matt Creasey, who was confirmed earlier this summer as EVP of sales acquisitions, co-productions for rest of world, will oversee the aforementioned sales operatives outside of EMEA.

Payne said: “We are proud to have such a dynamic and experienced team in place. Armed with great talent and an unrivalled catalogue of depth and strong storytelling, I am confident Banijay Rights will deliver the service and content expected from one of the world’s most significant distribution players.”