Ellender exits Slingshot

Slingshot Global Media’s David Ellender is stepping down as CEO at the company he founded two years ago.

Slingshot founder David Ellender

The former Fremantle Media International boss relocated from London to the US to launch the drama and comedy-skewing indie in 2014, but is now leaving the firm according to US trade Deadline.

The LA-based prodco is focused on developing and producing content for the US multi-platform market and identifying projects for international co-financing, coproduction and pre-sale.

It was formed in partnership with TPG Growth, the growth equity investment arm of Texas Pacific Group, with Ellender overseeing the development, financing, production and distribution of scripted TV content.

Ellender left FMI in 2013 following a restructure at the RTL Group-owned company, appointing Quan Phung, a former president of Bluegrass Television, to head Slingshot’s scripted TV division.

Prior to launching Slingshot Ellender revealed to C21 he had turned down job opportunities at bigger, more established companies for the chance to set up his own firm.

Ellender joined FremantleMedia in 2001. He was CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, the global sales and rights exploitation arm of the company, from 2006 until the division was rebranded FremantleMedia International in 2013.

Slingshot’s slate includes drama series Cleopatra with Shekhar Kapur, Keanu Reeves’ first foray into TV and a drama set in the Persian Gulf during the 1970s. The firm also agreed a development deal with Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp.

C21 could not reach Slingshot prior to press time.