Ex-Endemol Shine sales exec joins Lionsgate

Former Endemol Shine International exec Gisela Asimus-Minnbergh has joined Lionsgate to help launch its global unscripted and formats division.

She will be in Cannes next week selling the US studio’s first wholly-owned broadcast unscripted series, Kicking and Screaming, which is from Fear Factor producer and debuts on Fox in January 2017.

Asimus-Minnbergh will focus on identifying new revenue streams and business opportunities for Lionsgate’s alternative programming, as well as negotiating format and programming deals across most European territories.

Her role, VP of alternative programming sales, is a new one that will sit within senior VP, alternative programming sales Ted Bookstaver’s team.

“As Lionsgate continues the robust expansion of its alternative programming slate, we are continuing to build a team of sales executives who can identify and capitalise on distribution opportunities around the world,” said Bookstaver, to whom Asimus-Minnbergh reports.

Bookstaver joined Lionsgate as SVP in May from Dick Clark Productions. He had previously worked for Shine International and Eyeworks International Distribution.

Asimus-Minnberg spent eight years at Endemol Shine’s sales arm and its predecessor Endemol as director of television distribution. Before that she spent ten years as a senior sales executive at Southern Star International, whose parent company Endemol acquired in 2009.

She left Endemol Shine after the merger of Endemol and Shine Group, and has since been negotiating acquisitions and partnerships for the likes of BBC Worldwide and PBS International for Viking Cruises.

Lionsgate’s unscripted series includes Freeform’s Monica the Medium, GSN’s Hellevator and E!’s upcoming Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian.