Banijay promotes James Townley and Lucas Green to lead revised Creative Networks arm

L-R: James Townley and Lucas Green

Multinational production and distribution giant Banijay has revised the leadership of its Creative Networks arm, with execs James Townley and Lucas Green promoted to jointly lead the company’s central content team.

Green will become global head of content operations and take the helm of major brands and existing IP in the combined format catalogue, including titles such as MasterChef, Big Brother and Survivor.

Responsible for all existing unscripted formats, Green will focus on promoting recommissions, reboots and returnability across the company’s 22-territory reach.

Townley will meanwhile become global head of content development, where he will have the responsibility of driving the development and creation of original unscripted IP across the group to ensure a strong pipeline of formats with international appeal.

He will also manage internal creative incentivisation and pilot schemes, and targeted development for new platforms. In its new capacity, his team also includes Carlotta Rossi Spencer, head of format acquisitions, who will continue to lead third-party acquisitions for the catalogue and production across the footprint.

This latest revision to the central content team comes shortly after a global restructuring of sales operation division Banijay Rights, as first revealed by TBI.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my three years so far at Banijay and I can’t wait to generate maximum creative value from the huge new formats arriving in the group,” said Green. “In our new department we’re harnessing the best minds from both sides of the business to write the next chapter in the story of the world’s best formats.”

Townley added: “In our new capacity as a world leader, we are fortunate to work with some of the most talented, successful and diverse creatives in the industry. Creative Networks is here to strategically support, invest and further enhance the development of new ideas with the hope of fostering the super-brands of tomorrow.”