Shine confirms French expansion

Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Group has confirmed the launch of Shine France and the appointment of former Endemol France creative chief Thierry Lachkar to run it, as first revealed by C21 in April.

The rapidly growing UK-based indie today named Lachkar as CEO of its newly created French outpost, after C21 broke the news that Shine was looking to move into the territory and was in exclusive negotiations with the ex-Endemol chief creative officer.

Shine France will open for business next month. The move follows the launch of Shine Germany, headed by Alex Kuhn, and Shine Australia, headed by Mark and Carl Fennessy, plus last month’s acquisition of Nordic production powerhouse Metronome.

With the UK acquisitions of Kudos, Firefly and Princess, and Reveille in the US, Shine Group’s footprint now stands at 24 companies across three continents.

Lachkar joined Endemol France in 2000, as chief creative officer and international development chief. He has also served as chairman of Mark Burnett Productions France.

Shine Group CEO and chairman Elisabeth Murdoch said: “Our ambitious roll out plan for 2009 is designed to bring respected, creative, entrepreneurial talent to complement the Group and lead its establishment in key territories. Thierry was our number one target in France, has all these virtues and more and I can think of no one better to head our drive into this key market.”