ITV Studios hires Newen, TF1 alum to replace Sébastien Petiot as COO in France

The Voice (TF1)

ITV Studios (ITVS) has appointed Newen exec Céline Roux as COO of its operations in France.

Roux replaces Sébastien Petiot, who is leaving the business to focus on unspecified new projects, and will report into ITVS France’s CEO Thierry Lachkar. ITVS France said it would now focus on consolidating its unscripted and docs output, as well as expanding its dramas.

Its slate includes TF1’s The Voice, spin-off The Voice All Stars, and 4 Mariages Pour 1 Lune De Miel (aka Four Weddings), as well as talent show co-production Spectaculaire for France 2 and Nabilla: Sans Filtre, which is available via Amazon Prime Video.

Celine Roux

Roux started her career at TF1 Group before becoming a producer of dramas such as Crossing Lines and animation series, including Les Mini Ninjas.

She re-joined TF1 in 2016 as deputy director of acquisitions for French fiction, before moving to become secretary-general of Newen Studios-owned Capa two years later. Roux was was then upped to become deputy MD of unscripted at Newen France, working across shows from Telfrance, Capa and 17 Juin.

Former Shine exec Lachkar, who joined ITVS last December to replace Mediawan-bound Franck Firmin-Guion, said Roux’s “talent, expertise and experience in the production of content, whether it be in unscripted, documentary or drama, will be an invaluable asset in the development of ITV Studios France.”

Roux added: “The expansion of the company’s business scope is extremely exciting and promising. We have a lot of great projects to accomplish and worlds to explore together.”

Petiot concluded: “Thanks to the talent and dedication of the teams, and the support of the group, I have had six exceptional years in this beautiful house that is ITV. I would like to thank Thierry Lachkar and Lisa Perrin for their unfailing confidence and wish Céline every success.”