Plessis hired to bolster Lagardère’s SVOD efforts

France’s Lagardère Studios has appointed Thomas Plessis as director of digital business, a role that sees him support development of original mobile, SVOD and OTT content.

The hire marks a return to Lagardère for Plessis, who previously sold his podcasting business to the French media giant in 2008 and then worked as radio and digital programming chief.

Plessis later worked for Banijay Group-owned H2O Productions, which launched C8’s topical daily show Touche pas à Mon Poste (It’s Only TV), and then launched his own prodco, Dim-Sum Entertainment.

Lagardère Studios president Christophe Thoral said Plessis would “be in charge of defining, rolling out and coordinating the digital business of the Group’s companies and brands”.

Within this, he will provide support for Lagardère Group production companies such as Atlantique Productions in France and abroad as they look to develop and created original mobile, streaming, SVOD, OTT, VR and AR content for broadcasters and streamers.

Plessis will also promote productions on social media platforms, and identity development opportunities as Lagardère looks to build out its digital credentials.

“Thomas brings his expertise in both content and digital strategy to the table, which is a definite asset to strengthen the position of Lagardère Studios,” said Thoral, who replaced the Banijay-bound Takis Candilis a year ago.

Last year, TBI revealed Lagardère Studios was aiming to buy more European production companies, following a deal for Spain’s Boomerang.