Endemol Shine Oz team takes shape

Mark and Carl Fennessy’s team at Endemol Shine Australia is taking shape as the Sydney-based producer and distributor formally began operations.

Carl Fennessy

Shine Australia’s director of programming, Peter Newman, has been named managing director, unscripted content at the merged company.

He has overseen formats including MasterChef Australia, The Bachelor and Gogglebox while at Shine Australia.

Reporting into him is executive producer Margaret Bashfield, who has been promoted to supervising executive producer, unscripted content.

Endemol Shine Australia’s scripted team will comprise producers John Edwards (Offspring, Puberty Blues), Imogen Banks (Offspring, Puberty Blues), Mimi Butler (Rush, Paper Giants: Magazine Wars) and Kerrie Mainwaring (INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, Catching Milat).

This unit currently has shows such as Seven miniseries Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door in production and several others in development.

Other appointments see Sara Horn named MD, production and operations, Chris Fry promoted from finance and business development director at Shine Australia to CFO, Scott Howard named commercial director, Elliot Spencer becoming director of development and creative services, and Leanne McDonanell heading up human resources.

“Globally, Endemol Shine is responsible for some of the world’s marquee brands and premium content,” said the Fennessys in a statement. “We are truly excited about leading the newly merged business at such
an extraordinary period of change within the Australian television landscape.

“Such a unique combination of personnel and resources brings together the country’s most talented content creators and executives under one roof. It’s definitely a case of one and one makes three.”

The Fennessy brothers were named co-CEOs of the merged Endemol and Shine Australia business in May after initially turning down the chance. Endemol Australia CEO Janeen Faithfull exited the business in April.

This followed the merger of parent companies Endemol and Shine Group, along with US-based Core Media Group, at the turn of the year following a deal between 21^st Century Fox and Apollo Global Management.