Banijay rejigs creative networks

Banijay has handed new roles to James Townley and Lucas Green in its creative networks division as the European production giant continues to reorganise its senior management after its Endemol Shine buyout.

Lucas Green

Green will become global head of content operations, overseeing brands and existing IP in the Banijay format catalogue such as MasterChef, Big Brother, Survivor, Temptation Island and Deal or No Deal.

Taking on all existing unscripted formats, his remit will cover Banijay’s 22-territory footprint, including responsibility for promoting recommissions and reboots and ensuring consistency across adaptations.

Townley becomes global head of content development, driving the development and creation of original unscripted IP across the group to ensure a strong pipeline of formats with international appeal.

In its new capacity, his team also includes Carlotta Rossi Spencer, head of format acquisitions, who will continue to lead third-party acquisitions for the catalogue and production across the Banijay footprint.

James Townley

Townley will also partner with Green to facilitate material sharing worldwide. With distribution arm Banijay Rights, the pair will launch new programming slates at all key international markets.

Both will report to CEO Marco Bassetti, who said: “With our host of global super brands and ever-evolving pipeline remaining equal in importance, it was crucial we had a set of strong creative entrepreneurs at the helm to balance protection with growth.

“In James and Lucas, we have a first-class leadership team who can ensure both areas are prioritised as they set off on their independent missions to nurture format development, exploit our brands across the footprint and champion high-quality delivery across our client base.”

Following Banijay’s US$2.2bn takeover of Endemol Shine Group in the summer, the integration has already led to promotions and departures for the group’s distribution arm and operations in Iberia and Italy, Germany, Benelux, France, the Nordics and the UK.

Industry veteran Cathy Payne is overseeing the merger of the groups’ distribution arms.