Ross exits new-look Shine, Endemol

Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin will lead the newly merged Endemol, Shine and Core Media joint venture in the US as current Shine America CEO Rich Ross leaves for Discovery.

Cris Abrego

Abrego and Corwin will be co-chairmen and co-CEOs for North America once the merger of the three production giants is completed by parent companies 21st Century Fox and Apollo Global Management.

Charlie Corwin

They will report to Tim Hincks, currently president of Endemol, whose position was confirmed earlier this week reporting to new CEO Sophie Turner Laing.

Ross, meanwhile, is leaving at the end of the month to become president of the Discovery Channel. Based in LA and reporting to Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav, Ross will oversee creative and brand strategy, development, production, marketing and day-to-day operations of the US cablenet.

Rich Ross

Ross took up the CEO role at Shine America in 2013 after 16 years with The Walt Disney Company, most recently as chairman of Walt Disney Studios from 2009 to 2012.

He replaces Eileen O’Neill who stepped up to lead Discovery’s worldwide production efforts in August. Marjorie Kaplan will continue to fill the role on an interim basis until Ross starts work in January.

Shine Group CEO Alex Mahon will take over Ross’ responsibilities until the merger is completed, prior to her own departure next year following a handover period with Sophie Turner Laing.

Abrego and Corwin will run the day-to-day operations of Endemol in the US and assume responsibility for Shine America once the transaction is completed at the turn of the year.

Peter Hurwitz, currently executive VP and general counsel of Core Media, will oversee that part of the business as president.

Abrego was appointed co-chairman and co-CEO of Endemol North America in September last year having previously been co-founder of reality specialist 51 Minds. He sold that company to Endemol in 2008.
Abrego has worked alongside Corwin in the role. He was previously co-founder and CEO of Original Media, in which Endemol took a majority stake in November 2007.

21st Century Fox and Apollo confirmed at the start of the month that they intended to merge their three companies to create the world’s biggest independent production outfit as a 50/50 joint venture. The move is still subject to regulatory clearance but is expected to conclude at the turn of the year.

Mahon, Shine chairman Elisabeth Murdoch, Endemol CEO Just Spee and Core Media president Marc Graboff have all announced their departures ahead of the deal completion.