Argonon rejig sees Goddard named president and global CEO, Burstall exec chairman

L-R: James Burstall, Amanda Goddard, Hasham Khan and Matt Wildmayer

UK production group Argonon is reshuffling its leadership with long-serving CEO James Burstall moving into the role of executive chairman and Amanda Goddard appointed president and global CEO.

Goddard was previously chief commercial and legal officer for The Masked Singer producer and will now have a worldwide strategic remit across Argonon and its seven production companies.

In her previous role she helped drive the group’s diversification strategy, using Argonon’s IP library of more than 5,800 hours of content to create and grow commercial revenues across brand partnerships, sponsorship, FAST, digital and podcasts.

Burstall, who has held the role of CEO for 15 years since launching the company, becomes exec chairman across the group.

Described as the biggest leadership changes at the group since its foundation in 2011, the moves also see Matt Wildmayer promoted from chief financial officer (CFO) for Argonon USA to global CFO based both in the US and UK, while Hasham Khan of ABP Advisory becomes a board consultant.

Wildmayer’s previous remit spanned Argonon’s US offices, including Los Angeles, New York and Oklahoma, and American production companies Leopard USA and Rose Rock Entertainment. He will report to Goddard.

Burstall said: “Our sector is changing at breakneck pace; a restless state of constant evolution is the single most important mindset in a creative business. As platform agnostic storytellers whose content reaches millions of people across the world, we must be fearless, experimental, risk-taking and open to radical change to keep us at the cutting edge.”

Goddard added: “As we enter our next chapter amid seismic structural change, our entrepreneurial independence, adaptability and creativity will enable us to move quickly, deepen our partnerships and create content that connects and inspires audiences worldwide.”

Argonon’s credits include The Masked Singer UK (a joint venture with Bandicoot Scotland for ITV), Lost Treasures of Egypt (Windfall Films for Nat Geo), House Hunters International (Leopard USA for HGTV/Discovery), The Mother Flip (JV Rose Rock Entertainment for A&E), Twisted Twins (Like a Shot for ITV), Dispatches (BriteSpark Films for Channel 4), Hard Cell (Leopard Pictures for Netflix) and Worzel Gummidge (Leopard Pictures for BBC).