Warner Bros. nabs Endemol Shine exec for Oz

Warner Bros. International Television Production’s Austrlian arm has a new managing director.

Michael Brooks will join Warner from Endemol Shine USA, where he was senior VP, programming and executive producer of series such as MasterChef, MasterChef Junior and The Biggest Loser.

In August, WBITVP tapped Endemol Shine for another exec, bringing Shaun Murphy in to become its head of entertainment.

He will be based in Sydney, and oversee all production operations in the territory, reporting to London-based executive VP and head of WBITVP Ronald Goes.

Brooks is filling a post that has effectively been empty since Eyeworks Television Australia managing director John McAvoy left Warner to form his own company, McAvoy Media.

Following the acquisition of the Eyeworks Group in 2014, WBITVP rebranded Eyeworks Australia as Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia, which sits alongside Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. Malcolm Dudley-Smith has led the sales division in Asia Pacific since 2013.

WBITVP Australia produces series such as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette for Network Ten, First Dates for Seven Network and Who Do You Think You Are for SBS.

“WBITVP Australia create some of the most exciting and dynamic television content in the country and I am incredibly proud to now be a part of that,” said Brooks. “I look forward to working on both the established WBITVP formats and also helping to develop some fantastic new ones.”

Before working at Endemol Shine Group’s US arm, Brooks was SVP, programming and development at the LA-based BBC Worldwide Productions. There he developed and produced Top Gear USA and Dancing with the Stars.

He had begun his career at Australian broadcaster Nine before moving to the States in 2005.

“Having worked on some of the most successful franchised series in the world, Michael brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team, and he is the perfect choice to lead our Australian production business in what is a fast growing territory for us,” said Goes.