Formats exec joins NBC after DRG exit

Formats executive Albertina Marfil has joined NBCUniversal International Studios after leaving rival distributor DRG, TBI has learned.

Marfil had been with DRG since 2013, having previously worked at Cineflix Rights and IMG Media. She was most recently sales manager for North and South America and the Asia Pacific region.

She has joined NBCU’s formats division in a sales role. It is understood she is not a replacement for Jonathan Tuovinen, as but will take over some of his former territory responsibilties.

TBI this month revealed Tuovinen had exited after four years.

Marfil will report directly into NBCU International’s senior VP, format sales and production Yvonne Pilkington.

NBCU’s key formats include Top Chef, Real Housewives, Hollywood Game Night and Dance Your Ass Off. It also has scripted formats including House on its books.

Marfil’s former company, DRG, is part of Scandinavia’s Nice Entertainment Group, which is in turn part of European broadcaster Modern Times Group. The latter is currently making significant staff cuts and considering asset sales in order to raise funds.

DRG sells programmes such as Anno, Farmer in the City and Sex Box, and has had success shopping gentle British drama Doc Martin as a local format.

In November, TBI revealed DRG had dropped dedicated label DRG Formats, though the London-based company stressed at the time it was not exiting the genre. A key unscripted push at MIPTV will be new Alan Titchmarsh series Masterpiece.

DRG has not yet replaced Marfil, a spokesperson said.