Carter exits Endemol Shine Group

Endemol Shine Group (ESG) International co-CEO Gary Carter has decided to leave just a few months after being elevated to the post at the newly merged company.

Gary Carter

Carter’s departure was announced to ESG staff in an email by CEO Sophie Turner Laing, who said: “Gary has been very honest in explaining that, though early into our newly-merged business, he has decided that it is not for him and wanted to act now so we can plan for the future accordingly.

“I have greatly valued Gary’s skills and appreciate his work to date in bedding in the new company but I am respectful of his decision and characteristic honesty in wanting to say now for the benefit of all.”

Carter said in his own statement: “This was a difficult and very personal decision. In the last three months as the new group formed and the integration gathered momentum it has become clear to me that it is not a long-term home for me personally.

“Having been privileged to have worked for both Endemol and Shine, both formative and happy experiences, the prospect of the merger was always going to be complex and it became clear to me that this is not a context which plays to my professional strengths or personal interests.

“I felt it was better to say as much now, as to not do so would have been unfair and in my mind unprofessional. I would like to thank Sophie for her understanding and kind words and have assured colleagues I am here to work through the next few months to smooth any transition and minimize any inconvenience to themselves.”

Carter will continue in his role over the coming months but ESG will seek a replacement for the position. In the meantime, the company’s regional and local CEOs and MDs reporting into Carter continue to lead their respective operations.

Sophie Turner Laing

The former chairman of Shine Nordics, who oversees ESG International’s operations in the region as part of his role, was formerly FremantleMedia chief operating officer but resurfaced at Shine in March 2013.

Endemol Shine restructured its Nordics division earlier this month following the merger of Endemol, Shine and Core Media. The move saw Endemol Nordics CEO Michael Porseryd leave the company altogether and Endemol Norway, Endemol Denmark and Endemol Finland merged into existing Shine Nordics prodcos.

Rikke Nissen, Endemol Denmark’s MD, and Eric Linschooten, MD at Endemol Norway, are also leaving the company after a handover period, while discussions about the future of other staff at the companies are underway.

The Endemol Shine Nordics division will incorporate prodcos including Meter Television, STO-CPH Produktion, Filmlance International, Friday TV, Mag5 Content, Rubicon TV, Metronome Spartacus, Metronome Productions, Endemol Sweden and Shine Finland.