Buccaneer nabs Big Bro exec from Endemol Shine

London-based Buccaneer Media has poached an Endemol Shine UK executive to become its head of unscripted.

Denis O’Connor (pictured) joins the firm from Endemol Shine Group’s Initial, where he was creative director of Big Brother, Big Brother’s Bit of the Side and Celebrity Big Brother.

He will work alongside Buccaneer founder Tony Wood, who is best known for The Only Way is Essex, officially working as head of unscripted programming and development.

Marrying Denis’s experience on Big Brother with mine on The Only Way is Essex opens up some very interesting new ideas and I’m thrilled to be creating exciting new unscripted shows together,” said Wood, who launched Buccaneer with Cineflix Media in 2013.

“There’s an exciting new landscape for unscripted TV developing here in the UK and around the world and alongside a fantastic team I’m looking forward to creating innovative and compelling television,” said O’Connor.

Buccaneer’s unscripted shows include Sky1’s Desi Rascals, while its scripted efforts include the upcoming ITV ‘British noir’ Marcella.