Pasquinelli re-joins Endemol Shine Italy

The recently departed MD of Banijay Group-owned Magnolia in Italy is re-joining Endemol Shine Italy as CEO.

Leonardo Pasquinelli

Leonardo Pasquinelli, who had been with Endemol Italia for a decade before joining Magnolia in 2014, will succeed Paolo Bassetti in the role.

Pasquinelli will assume the post in the coming months following a handover from Bassetti, with senior management within Endemol Shine Italy and Endemol Shine Group (ESG) also supporting in the interim, ESG said.

Bassetti is leaving after almost 20 years with Endemol to “take a break and undertake a new chapter in my life to find new experiences,” he said.

After many years as an executive producer, Pasquinelli became head of light entertainment at Mediaset in 1997 before joining Endemol Italia in 2004 and becoming VP in 2008.

Endemol Shine Italy produces local versions of formats such as Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, MasterChef Italia, Next One, The Best Years of Our Lives, Ready Steady Cook, Your Face Sounds Familiar, The Wall and Identity.

Its scripted slate has grown recently with productions including Tangled Lies, The Teacher, The Good Apprentice, Tuscan Passion and Sisters.

Banijay Group announced today that Pasquinelli has been succeeded at Magnolia by former Endemol Shine Italy commercial director and chief creative officer Stefano Torrisi.