Endemol hires CME exec Williams

Endemol has continued its aggressive expansion plans with the hire of CME executive Marina Williams as chief executive of the company’s Central and Eastern European arm.

This follows the appointment of Disney ABC ESPN Television boss Tom Toumazis as chief commercial officer.

Williams, who was previously EVP at pan regional broadcaster group Central European Media Enterprises (CME), will be in charge of the producer and distributor’s drive to boost local production across the region, particularly Russia, Turkey and Poland. Endemol Moscow has just inked a deal to produce drama Vipers’ Nest for Channel One and the company hopes to expand such moves.

Williams, who has also had executive roles at Fox Kids will start in January 2009 and will report to chief operating officer Marco Bassetti, based in London.

Chief executive Ynon Kreiz recently told TBI that he is changing the company’s corporate structure. "We have a few more people to hire – there are some new roles that feed into our expansion plan," he said.