NBCU hires ex-Endemol Shine exec for formats

NBCUniversal International Studios has brought in former Endemol Shine Group formats sales chief Ana Langenberg to replace Yvonne Pilkington, who exited recently.

Langenberg has joined as senior VP of format sales and productions at NBCUniversal International Formats, which is part of NBCUIS.

Pilkington exited recently after a long spell at the international arm of Comcast-owned US studio NBCU, as TBI revealed at the time.

Langenberg will oversee all global sales and production of formats from the US and international territories. These include NBC competition series World of Dance, cookery show Top Chef, game show Hollywood Game Night and scripted formats Law and Order and Parenthood.

She will also work closely with NBCUniversal International Distribution to push NBCU’s formats internationally.

“We are so pleased to be welcoming Ana during such an exciting growth period for international formats,” said NBCUIS’s COO, Sarah Cooper, to whom Langenberg will report.

“Her unrivalled format expertise teamed with her extensive international experience makes her the perfect fit for the role and I look forward to working with her in growing the business and extending the reach of our catalogue internationally.”

Langenberg worked for Endemol Shine Group – and predecessor Endemol – for 18 years before leaving in September last year. At that point she was COO of Endemol Shine Creative Networks, which Lisa Perrin has led since Endemol merged with Shine at the end of 2014.

Before that, she was global head of format distribution at Endemol, where she led the international roll outs of shows such as Big Brother and Deal or No Deal. She also played crucial roles in the establishment of joint ventures in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and India, and served as a board member for Endemol Shine Globo.

“I am thrilled to be coming on board as International Formats begins to launch World of Dance and a number of impressive formats globally,” said Langenberg. “With an ever-growing catalogue and an increasing network of creative partners globally, the business has so much potential and I cannot wait to work with the team to build an ambitious international growth strategy for the future.”