Endemol Shine France names programming chiefs

Endemol Shine France has revealed the shape of Vincent Panozzo’s programming unit, with content centred around three genre-specific departments.

Caroline Gavignet will take charge of the entertainment unit, with factual going to Angélique Sansonnetti and Julien Aubour taking on reality TV. All three are long-serving Endemol Shine Group execs, and now become directors of programming for their areas of responsibility.

Endemol France and Shine France will soon become one business after their merger was given the go-ahead.

ESF director of programmes and creative development Panozzo (pictured), who comes from Shine, will himself lead game show and creative development at the merged Endemol France and Shine France unit, which was given the regulatory greenlight last month.

Director of casting Jeanne Collin will assist him, and Malika Postansque will take on acquisitions of third-party format acquisitions.

ESF president Nicolas Copperman will oversee the Miss France and Talent Lab labels, which Sylvie Tellier will head up.

Entertainment chief Gavignet worked for Shine France between 2011 before joining Endemol France in 2014 as entertainment and documentary chief.

Sansonnetti, conversely, worked at Endemol France before joining Shine France, while Aubour worked at Studio 89 and FremantleMedia France before joining Endemol in 2005. He then went to ITV Studios France before joining Shine in 2012.

“Access to the best formats, created locally or adapted from the group’s rich portfolio, is a key to success,” said Panozzo. “The other key factor for success is the quality of execution.

“With this new team, made up of great professionals who have been recognised for many years on the market, we are endowing Endemol Shine France with the best talent to offer all broadcasters the most effective content.”

Last October, TBI revealed the plan to merge Endemol France and Shine France. The companies were operating separately despite the 2015 merger of Endemol and Shine Group, and subsequent mergers of their businesses in all other operational territories.

Copperman was named president of the merged unit at that point, with Thierry Lachkar exiting. Lachkar’s number two, Bouchra Réjani, is also leaving as part of the merger, with Delphine Cazaux later named COO of the new company.