Atlantique poaches Haut et Court’s Desmarais

France’s Atlantique Productions has poached Jimmy Desmarais from The Last Panthers coproducer Haut et Court to become its co-managing director.

Desmarais will work alongside existing MD Olivier Bibas at the scripted producer, which is part of the Lagardère Studios group and best known for shows such has Borgia and Transporter.

Lagardère Studios sees Desmarais’ hire as evidence it plans to step up its international development and raise its standing as a European drama coproduction player.

Desmarais joined Haut et Court in 2005, and went on to produce series such as Xanadu, Silex and the City and Les Revenants. He specialised in high-end drama coproduction, which led to Haut et Court’s involvement in shows such as the upcoming Canal+ and Sky crime drama The Last Panthers.

Atlantique executive producer Patrick Nebout will continue to oversee the firm’s current slate, which includes SVT, Canal+ and Nice Drama copro Jour Polaire (Midnight Sun), Métal Hurlant – Origins, Cattleya coproduction Django and Keshet UK project Crater Lake.