Studio71’s co-chief exec joins Mr Beast outfit

Former Studio71 co-chief exec Adam Boorstin has joined the nascent original content division of Mr Beast’s Beast Industries.

Boorstin becomes general manager at WatchTime Studios and will oversee production of original IP across genres and verticals.

He was most recently co-chief exec alongside Matt Crowley at Studio71, the digital entertainment company and creator network that had been owned by Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1. 

Studio71 US was founded in 2011 under the name Collective Digital Studio and had been part of the German group since 2015, with France’s TF1 Group and Mediaset in Italy also investing in the company. Its US interests were sold in April to Fixated.

Boorstin had been with Studio71 in the US for eight years, initially as chief business officer before rising to chief operating officer and then co-chief exec. He previously worked at BuzzFeed.

He will work alongside WatchTime’s head of content, Jeremy Azevedo, who joined in May and was previously head of production at Made In Network.

Before that, he was vice president of branded content and development at LA-based agency Loaded, having also led gaming programming at IGN Entertainment.

Beast Industries, which acts as parent company for the businesses owned by YouTube star Mr Beast (aka Jimmy Donaldson), has been expanding over recent years.

The company already houses snack brand Feastables as well as production unit Beast Industry Studios, which had been run by former NBCUniversal exec Corie Henson. She departed earlier this month to return to LA.

Boorstin wrote on social media that he would be working with Azevedo to “grow the [Watchtime Studios] team and partner with creators to build something audiences will love.”

He added: “A huge thank you to Jimmy Donaldson, [Beast Industries chief exec] Jeffrey Housenbold, and [chief business officer] Ted Fike for the opportunity. With over 100 billion video views, top-tier consumer products, and a philanthropy arm that has helped millions, MrBeast is redefining what’s possible in the industry. It’s going to be an awesome journey ahead.

“Over the coming months, I look forward to reconnecting with creators, partners, colleagues, and friends as we bring extraordinary new projects to life.”