Banijay France CEO François de Brugada to step down to lead new live event unit

François de Brugada

Banijay is recruiting a new CEO for its business in France, with incumbent François de Brugada stepping down after eight years in the role to take up a new position at parent company FL Entertainment.

Brugada will lead the new Banijay Events unit, which has been created following last week’s deal to acquire Italian firm Balich Wonder Studio and the 6 June investment in marketing agency, The Independents. He will be tasked with growing the new division and identifying M&A potential.

Banijay Events will sit within FL Entertainment’s production and distribution operations, led by Banijay CEO, Marco Bassetti. FL says it wants to become “a global leader” in the production of live events, which it believes has “significant growth potential”.

FL Entertainment was launched last year, rolling Banjay into the publically traded entity, which also houses online gambling firm Betclic. The deal freed up capital for the French production-distribution giant, prompting an acquisitions spree over the past 18 months.

Banijay France’s next move

Brugada will remain with Banijay France for “at least” the next three months, the company said, as it searches for a replacement.

LOL: Qui Rit, Sort!

He had led the French division since 2015, overseeing a unit that now houses 15 production labels including Adventure Line Productions, Endemol Shine France, H20 Productions and recently acquired Puzzle Media.

Its output stands at almost 3,000 hours of programming, ranging from Les 12 Coups De Midi (TF1) and Prodiges (France 2), to Patron Incognito (M6) and LOL: Qui Rit, Sort! (Prime Video).

Brugada joined Banijay at its inception in 2008 as EVP of content, before becoming COO and partnering closely with chairman, Stéphane Courbit, to assist its expansion across France, Spain, the US, Nordics, Germany and Australia.

He then retained his position following Banijay’s acquisition of Endemol Shine Group, with the latter’s president in the country, Nicolas Coppermann, subsequently stepping down.

Brugada said: “It has been an exciting journey growing the business in France, and as part of that work, bolstering the scripted offering. Joining FLE to lead Banijay Events, is for me like going back to the early years of Banijay; but this time with two major players already onboard – I am thrilled by this new challenge.

“There are many similarities between Banijay and the events production business, and I have no doubt, that in blending the two experiences, we can establish a healthy footing in the market, as was done in the audio-visual space.”

Bassetti added: “Diversifying our content capabilities beyond the screen marks a real gear shift for the group. Banijay Events launches with a solid base thanks to the recently announced investments, and from here, there are so many opportunities for further collaboration and onward global growth.”

François Riahi, CEO at FL Entertainment, said moving into live events “represents a perfect addition to our group and to our strategy to become an integrated global entertainment leader.”