Banijay’s branded entertainment chief steps down

Long-serving Banijay Entertainment exec Carlotta Rossi Spencer has stepped down from the company, Broadcast International has learned.

The exec, who has been a the super-indie for 11 years, is exiting to launch an international strategic advisory business. She will remain connected with the business in a consulancy capacity.

Rossi Spencer has been at the company for 11 years, joining as head of formats and development at Banijay Italy.

She moved to the wider group in 2015 as head of format acquisitions, based in London, a role she held until 2022 when she was handed a new position as the super-indie’s first head of branded content business development.

In her four-year tenure, Rossi Spencer had a global remit to oversee the delivery and execution of partnerships with advertisers, working closely with the group’s 120-plus local labels and talent to seek out new, revenue-generating opportunities.

In 2023, she took leadership of Banijay Branded Entertainment, which was launched to leverage the group’s global production assets to deliver against brand briefs at a local and global level.

Rossi Spencer oversaw deals including a pact with software, insights and data company, Launchmetrics, and Banijay Iberia’s creative agency IMA, as well as a strategic alliance with UK and France-based advertising specialist indie And So Production, and a development deal with presenter and producer Aidy Smith.

In an internal memo, seen by Broadcast International (see below), Banijay Entertainment chief executive Marco Bassetti described Rossi Spencer as a “key member of the team for over a decade”.

“Carlotta contributed to several areas of the business, firstly in Italy, before leading on the group’s format acquisitions strategy from London,” Bassetti said. “Post the acquisition of Endemol back in 2020, she then launched Banijay Branded Entertainment (BBE), which has been a key partner for labels across the group building out their activities in brand-funded production.

“Building invaluable relationships with a number of the industry’s leading brand agencies, most recently, she played a significant role in striking a new yet-to-be-announced project with a sustainable fashion brand.

“Thanks to Carlotta for her commitment, creativity, and contribution to the growth of the business. We wish her continued success as she embarks on her next chapter.”

Rossi Spencer, who is launching an advisory business named Impeto, added: “At Banijay, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to a number of the group’s departments - from acquisitions and strategic development to more recently building our global branded entertainment business alongside exceptional colleagues and partners worldwide.

”I’m incredibly grateful for the trust, opportunities and relationships that have defined this part of my career and while I’m stepping away from this role, I look forward to working with a number of the teams around the world in my capacity as a consultant.

“I am beginning an exciting new chapter with the launch of my very own international strategic advisory business. Building on the experience I’ve gained over the years, I’ll be partnering with companies, creators and brands around the world on business, content, branded entertainment and digital innovation strategies that promote growth.”

Rossi Spencer’s exit follows the completion of Banijay’s mega-merger with All3Media last month. Since then, the newly enlarged company has initiated the complex integration of the two super-indie peers.

The process has already seen the departure of All3Media International’s distribution chief Louise Pedersen and senior All3 execs Steven Brown, director of corporate development, and chief operating officer Sara Geater.

Rossi Spencer is the most senior Banijay exec to have exited the company post-merger.