NBCU fills int’l production role

NBC Universal (NBCU) has named its new president of international production, following Denise O’Donoghue’s departure in January after only four months in the job.

Michael Edelstein, formerly an executive producer on Sex and the City and sci-fi drama Defying Gravity, is relocating from Los Angeles to London to take the job. He will report to NBCU International president Peter Smith and work with VP of international television production Mike Beale.

O’Donoghue, formerly MD of Hat Trick Productions, quit earlier this year, having succeeded previous incumbent Angela Bromstad only last September. She cited a need to work “more directly” with producers.

Edelstein will be in charge of NBCU’s international television production and strategic TV content partnerships outside of the US.

Falling under his remit are Carnival Film & Television, the UK indie NBCU acquired in 2008 and whose credits include ITV drama Whitechapel and the BBC’s Hotel Babylon; and Working Title Television, a transatlantic comedy and drama joint venture that launched earlier this year.

He will also look after NBCU’s international formats licensing business, which has previously launched formats such as Top Chef and Dance Your Ass Off in multiple territories.

NBCU said his role would be “pivotal” to future international growth as the company looks to hit a non-US revenue target of US$5bn within the next two years.

Edelstein’s credits include seasons as executive producer on HBO’s Sex and the City and Fox Television Studios/Omni Film Productions coproduction Defying Gravity, which aired in Germany, the UK, Canada and the US. He also founded the Edelstein Company and previously worked at Industry Entertainment and CBS Entertainment.