Ex-Shine France COO creates Federation firm

France’s Federation Entertainment has brought in former Shine France COO Bouchra Réjani to create a multi-genre production company.

The launch of WeMake pushes Federation into unscripted programming for the first time, meaning it now operates in that area, scripted and children’s television through Cottonwood Media.

Réjani recently left Shine France ahead of its merger with Endemol France. There she had worked with former CEO Tierry Lachkar on entertainment formats such as MasterChef and One Born Every Minute and scripted series such as The Tunnel.

Her counterpart at Endemol France, Delphine Cazaux, has been named COO (directrice générale) of Endemol Shine France.

Réjani had begun her career at KPMG Audit before joining Fox Kids Europe, then part of News Corp, in 1999.

She became deputy director of Fox Kids France (later known as Disney XD France) in 2000 before moving to FremantleMedia France in 2004 and rising to become its COO.

She joined Shine France seven years ago, overseeing commercial and strategic development.

Her new company will produce scripted, unscripted and digital content out of Paris.

“Federation has built strong ties with the market’s top platforms in the US and Europe, and this is why I’m delighted to support Bouchra’s efforts with WeMake to create new formats for both French broadcasters and international platforms,” said Federation CEO and founder Pascal Breton.

Réjani said she and Federation shared “the same values and taste for high-end production value content”.

“Providing the audience with the best entertainment content is an amazing challenge,” she added. “Gathering the best talents for scripted and unscripted content will be eased by this key partnership with Federation Entertainment, the fastest growing indie and most successful company in France.”