De Mol’s Talpa hires for new sales arm

John De Mol’s Talpa Entertainment Productions has hired an ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE) exec to head its fledgling distribution arm.

Sebastian van Barneveld

Sebastian van Barneveld begins at the Dutch company today as director of international distribution. The appointment reunites van Barneveld with de Mol, under whom he worked at Talpa Media.

Van Barneveld most recently served as head of licensing in emerging markets at ITVSGE, which he joined when the firm acquired Talpa Media from De Mol in 2015.

De Mol, creator of singing format The Voice and founder of formats giant Endemol, left ITV Studios at the end of 2019, four years after it acquired his business, prompting a company restructure.

Talpa Global, part of Talpa Media, was fully integrated into ITVSGE, with the Talpa Media brand ceasing to exist and de Mol leaving ITV Studios to focus on his Dutch broadcast group Talpa Network.

De Mol’s company continues to develop and produce formats in the Netherlands, and Van Barneveld will be responsible for global sales and distribution. He will operate from the Netherlands, with a focus on building partnerships across the globe, Talpa said.

Van Barneveld has held several executive distribution roles within legal and sales at companies including Endemol International and Talpa Global in recent years.

Last month Talpa revealed two new international formats, Split Screen and Hit the Road, and the company has more in the pipeline.

De Mol said: “Now that we are building a new fresh format catalogue, the logical next step is to set up a solid distribution arm.”

Van Barneveld added: “Building new partnerships and focusing on making our formats travel across the world is more challenging and exciting than ever.”

Talpa Network includes four free-to-air TV channels, a Dutch video platform and various social media channels and brands, as well as a radio service and ecommerce businesses.