Senior hires come four months after the Ronald Goes-led division set up shop in Italy
Warner Bros International TV Production (WBITVP) has hired two senior Banijay execs for its recently launched Italian division.
Pierangelo Marano joins as head of entertainment and will take creative and strategic lead on unscripted programming, overseeing the development and production of WBITVP and third-party entertainment formats produced by WBITVP Italia.
He joins from Banijay Italia where he worked on factual and entertainment formats, having previously held roles at Endemol Italia, Magnolia and Pesci Combattenti. Credits include Italian versions of Big Brother, The Farm, Long Lost Family, Beauty and the Geek and Crónicas Marcianas.
Also joining WBITVP Italia is Max Giammarrusti, who becomes head of production and will lead on all operational aspects of unscripted production, from budgeting and compliance to delivery and staffing.
Giammarrusti also joins from Banijay Italia, where he worked on shows including MasterChef, Lo Show dei Record (Guinness Book of World Records) and Che Tempo Che Fa.
Rounding out the appointments, Nicolás de las Peñas expands his current role as business director for WBITVP Spain and Portugal to also oversee finance and operations for the new Italian label.
All three roles report to Stefano Torrisi, who was named managing director of WBITVP Italia earlier this year, when Broadcast International broke news of the expansion into Italy.
Ilan Astrug, vice-president of creative format acquisition at WBITVP’s London headquarters, has supported the company’s activity in the Italian market in recent years, including format licensing ahead of the launch of the division, and will continue to support the Italian management team.
Based in Milan, WBITVP Italy is the 15th territory that the Ronald Goes-led production division operates in, with Torrisi also heading up WBITVP’s production business in Iberia.
WBITVP Italia is taking over production of First Dates Italy (Primo Appuntamento) from local indie Stand By Me, with the show set for Discovery Real Time.
WBITVP Italia said the appointments meant the unit is now “fully operational”, with a remit to adapt international formats, originate local IP, and contribute to the organic growth.
Torrisi said: “I am thrilled to have Max, Pierangelo and Nicolás by my side, running this exciting new business. They are all highly skilled and respected in their roles, and their appointments only serve to demonstrate that we are not only committed to being a major force in the dynamic Italian television market, but that we are now also well and truly open for business.”
WBITVP president Goes added: “Max and Pierangelo bring sharp insight, a deep understanding of the Italian market inside and out, and impressive international credentials.
“I’m equally delighted that Nicolás will join them, having agreed to take on this expanded role, so the team can draw on his extensive operational experience and working knowledge of the group.
“This is a major milestone for the business and, with Stefano’s leadership and this team in place, we have all the ingredients for WBITVP Italia to deliver standout programming, both in Italy and for the WBITVP group as a whole.”
WBITP was founded in 2009 and produces local scripted and unscripted programming through its network of local production operations comprising 22 production businesses in 15 territories: the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Italy – and also in Australia and New Zealand.
Its slate includes First Dates, The Bachelor, The Golden Bachelor, Cash or Trash, The Repair Shop, FBoy Island, Who Do You Think You Are? and Glow Up. Scripted series include The Twelve, 30 Somethings, and Love Me.
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