Asacha brings in former Disney exec

The fledgling pan-European drama group set up by alumni from Endemol Shine, Banijay and Zodiak Media has hired former Disney executive Maria Grazia Ursino to handle development and distribution.

Maria Grazia Ursino

Asacha Media Group, which was set up earlier this year by former Endemol Shine exec Marina Williams, Banijay alum Gaspard de Chavagnac and ex-Zodiak Media CEO Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, has appointed Grazia Ursino as VP of content development and distribution.

Based in Rome, Ursino will lead coproductions, development and distribution for Asacha Media Group, with a focus on southern European and Spanish-speaking markets. Ursino reports to Asacha Media Group’s co-CEOs de Chavagnac and Williams.

Headquartered in Paris, Asacha Media Group launched in April with the acquisitions of Italian production houses Picomedia and Stand By Me and French production company Mintee Studio.

The multinational partnership of content creators and producers has backing from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

Asacha Media’s business predominantly focuses on the growth in demand for non-English-language scripted content from streaming platforms and European broadcasters.

Discussions are underway about further acquisitions in other key European markets.

Ursino joins Asacha Media from Disney where she most recently served as sales director for Turkey, Israel and Greece, following the company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

She previously held the role of executive director at Fox Networks Group Content Distribution’s business in Italy, Spain and Portugal, responsible for distributing Fox Networks and National Geographic’s catalogues.

Prior to her years with Fox, Ursino was sales director at Sony Pictures Television, having previously held both production and distribution roles within the independent production sector in Italy.

Williams said: “Maria brings with her 20 years of experience that spans multiple markets and genres. Her appointment will accelerate the growth of Asacha’s coproduction and content creation business, as we expand into new markets and enter further partnerships with networks and streaming platforms.”