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Gaumont hires Kudos exec for UK arm

Narcos producer Gaumont is launching a UK division and appointed an executive from Endemol Shine Group’s Kudos to lead it.

Alison Jackson

Alison Jackson will serve as president of Gaumont UK, reporting to Christophe Riandee, the French production company’s vice CEO.

Jackson, who has been at Kudos since 2007, is working on the second season of Sky Atlantic drama Tin Star and will continue in this role until she joins Gaumont in August.

The launch of the UK division follows Gaumont’s plans to enter Germany, which were revealed last month. That division is set to launch in the summer and will be led by Sabine de Mardt, former director of fiction and film at Warner Bros International TV Production Deutschland.

“The opening of our UK and German divisions signifies the continued expansion of Gaumont and is instrumental to our plan to develop and produce TV dramas in select territories around the world,” said Sidonie Dumas, CEO at Gaumont.

“The UK has a rich heritage in creating exceptional dramas that travel the world, and with Alison’s infectious passion for television drama, as well as her ability to tap into the deep resource of well-established and emerging talent, this market will also be a key driver for new content for Gaumont outside the US, France and Germany,” added Riandee.

Jackson, whose credits include BBC series Hunted and ITV drama Echo Beach, said her new role offered the opportunity “to work with some of the best talent in the UK and tell bold, ambitious, emotional stories that we are passionate about.”

Gaumont’s UK move is the latest international expansion for the France-based firm, which boosted its North American and Latin American distribution teams earlier this year with the appointment of former Miramax and Snap TV execs.

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