John Richards named Banijay Rights CFO as Wagener departs

The latest piece of Banijay’s senior leadership team is in place, with John Richards appointed chief financial officer at distribution arm Banijay Rights.

John Richards

An internal memo from Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne confirmed Richards in the role this week. He has spent more than a decade with Endemol and then Banijay, which recently merged with All3Media.

Payne said: “With a new team already in place, the catalogue combined and the back office and systems slowly coming together, it feels like we have speedily landed in a great place.”

Banijay Entertainment also said John Wagener, chief operating officer and CFO of All3Media International, will step down at the end of the year following the merger of the two businesses.

Wagener, who reported to former CEO Louise Pedersen, joined All3Media International in 2006 to lead the finance team and support the growth of the business.

Following the sale of the group to Liberty Global and Discovery in 2014, he was promoted to COO and CFO and more recently joined the group’s senior executive committee after the sale to RedBird IMI in 2024. Before All3Media, Wagener spent his early career at North One TV, ETV Media Group and ITN Productions.

Wagener said: “The merger between Banijay and All3Media presented a positive opportunity for me to explore new challenges and, ultimately, embark on the next stage of my career. I would like to thank all the colleagues and clients I have worked with during my time at All3MI.”