Banijay nabs Warner Bros. exec for COO post

Banijay Group has hired Warner Bros. International Television Production vice-president Peter Langenberg as COO.

Based in London and Paris, Langenberg will have direct responsibility for Banijay’s operations in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Germany and India.

Rod Henwood had previously overseen the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and India, but last month announced he was leaving the business in Novermber.

Banijay CEO Marco Basseti has tasked Langenberg to take a particular focus on “building synergies at group level and increasing development opportunities”.

Tom McClelland, currently VP, worldwide sales at WBITVP, will take over Langenberg’s duties, a Warner Bros. spokesman told TBI.

Langenberg has been with Warner Bros. for five years, most recently as WBITVP’s VP, business management. Prior to that, he was COO of R&D Media Holding and 3 Circles Media Holding.

He also spent ten years working at Endemol Shine Group predecessor Endemol, where he worked with WBITVP chief Ronald Goes. At Endemol, he held posts such as group executive director and managing director, entertainment Endemol Netherlands.

“We are delighted to have such a highly experienced and well-regarded international executive join us,” said Bassetti. “Peter has an extremely strong track record in determining and expanding strategic opportunities across a wide-ranging group of companies and we are sure that his expertise and enthusiasm for the content business will take our growing federation of creative companies to the next level.”

Langenberg hire comes soon after Banijay hired Lagardère exec Takis Candilis to become its head of scripted.

Banijay hasn’t had a COO since it merged with Zodiak Media earlier this year, though Francois de Brugada held a different iteration of the role before becoming CEO of Banijay France in 2014.