Sharon Levy named CEO as Endemol Shine North America restructures

Lego Masters

Sharon Levy has been promoted to CEO of Endemol Shine North America (ESNA), in a restructure which will see the Banijay-owned company now act purely as a production studio.

Endemol Shine North America, which is behind competition formats Lego Masters and MasterChef and upcoming drama Ripley, previously served as both Banijay’s holding company in North America, as well as a production studio, but will now operate solely as the latter.

The company will now sit under the Banijay Americas banner alongside fellow US firms Bunim/Murray Productions, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment, Authentic Entertainment and Stephen David Entertainment, as well as Mexico-based Endemol Shine Boomdog and Banijay Mexico and US Hispanic; and Brazil-based Endemol Shine Brasil and A Fábrica.

Sharon Levy

The change marks Ben Samek’s first move since being appointed as CEO of Banijay Americas earlier this week, following the exit of Cris Abrego.

“Reconstituting ESNA as a pure production studio that lives alongside the nine other studios that form Banijay Americas, each with its own leadership and goals, will afford us the opportunity to work more collaboratively and efficiently and represent ourselves more clearly to our industry partners,” said Samek.

Levy has served as chief content officer at Endemol Shine North America since 2021, originally joining the company in October 2017 as as president of unscripted and scripted TV. During that time, she has overseen shows including Wipeout, The Courtship, Lego Masters and MasterChef.

Prior to Endemol Shine North America she was EVP of original series for Spike TV, where she oversaw the acquisition, creation, and production of unscripted series, scripted series, and documentaries, including Ink Master, Bar Rescue, Auction Hunters, and Deadliest Warrior

“With Endemol Shine North America now operating solely as a production studio, we’ll move more nimbly and be better positioned to meet the challenges of the moment. It’s a new era at ESNA, and we look forward to working with partners, old and new, to create great television,” said Levy.