Fennessys in Endemol Shine U-turn

Shine Australia CEOs Mark and Carl Fennessy will take the helm of the Endemol Shine Group (ESG) in Australia after all, despite initially rejecting the role.

Carl and Mark Fennessy

The brothers accepted the positions of joint CEOs of the yet-to-merge company after turning down the offer early last month.

The Fennessys, who launched Shine Australia five years ago after being poached from FremantleMedia Australia, had been due to depart when their contracts expire later this year.

They had planned to take a break and it was widely expected they would then resume their careers as independent producers.

Martha Brass, co-CEO of international operations at ESG, had been leading the search for a new CEO in Australia, which had delayed the merger of the Shine and Endemol operations in the country.

She engaged a firm of head-hunters who had interviewed a wide range of executives in the broadcasting and production industries during the past few weeks.

Mark and Carl Fennessy said: “Since giving notice we have continued to work through a transition, producing our current slate of shows and assisting with a succession plan. Our pride in the local business coupled with a fierce loyalty towards our talented staff was always going to make departing difficult.

“They say a week’s a long time in television – so after further discussion and consideration we’ve decided to accept the opportunity of managing the merged company. We’re genuinely excited about being part of the next chapter for a combined Australian business within Endemol Shine Group.”

Brass said: “Our conversations with Mark and Carl have been positive throughout, from our early discussions to their decision to take a break and then over the last couple of months as they helped us plan for new leaders for the combined business. I’d like to express heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this process, which has been undertaken with great dedication and has undoubtedly produced the best outcome.”

No timeline has yet been given for the integration of Shine and Endemol, which will result in the departure of Endemol CEO Janeen Faithfull.

The moves follow the mega-merger of Shine, Endemol and Core Media which was signed off at the turn of the year.