Endemol names regional CEO
- Published: 08 October 2008 09:42
- Author: Robin Parker
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- Last Updated: 08 October 2008 15:21
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Endemol has hired its first chief executive for Central and Eastern Europe.
Marina Williams will be tasked with overseeing the expansion of the super-indie's business in countries such as Russia, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine and Greece.
As CEO of Central and Eastern European operations, she will build local output including scripted programming, as well as establish new production bases across the region.
She will also work alongside the group's newly appointed chief commercial officer Tom Toumazis, who is responsible for expanding Endemol's global licensing and distribution activities.
The pair will develop licensing and distribution operations throughout Central and Eastern Europe as well as pursue partnerships and joint ventures with local and regional parties.
Williams was most recently executive vice president of broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises (CME), whose channels reached around 91 million people in the region.
She was previously at Fox Kids, first as managing director of Central and Eastern Europe then executive director, TV channels, Europe.
She has worked in the region for 17 years and has helped to launch and run channels such as Russia's first commercial broadcaster TV-6, Bulgarian network bTV and regional offshoots of CNN International, Cartoon Network, Jetix and Fox Life.
Williams will take up her new role in January 2009 and will be based in London, reporting to Endemol chief operating officer Marco Bassetti.
Endemol currently has local operating companies in Russia, Poland and Turkey, with a production slate including Big Brother, Operacion Triunfo and The Kids Are All Right in Poland; Wipeout and Deal or No Deal in Turkey and 1 vs. 100 and drama series The Heritage in Russia.
Its shows have also been licensed in territories across Central and Eastern Europe including Greece, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Balkans, Bulgaria and Ukraine.
"Endemol has already established a significant presence in Central and Eastern Europe and has a firm grasp of regional market trends such as the strong preference for locally produced content," Williams said.
"By expanding and diversifying the group's local output, distribution and geographical presence our ambition is to make Endemol one of the principal players in this market."
