Former Talkback and Thames chief Leon Wilson has been named CEO of Banijay UK labels Shine TV and Zeppotron.
This comes after the information present Shine Managing Director Jon Swain is stepping down on the finish of the 12 months. Wilson will report back to Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland the he takes up the CEO position on the finish of the month.
Shine is understood for the BBC’s MasterChef manufacturers, Hunted and Celebrity Hunted and new Channel 4 jail format Banged Up, whereas Zeppotron makes the lengthy operating exhibits 8 Out of 10 Cats, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Would I Lie to You?.
There aren’t any plans to immediately exchange Swain at Shine, however Wilson will work with Creative Director Tim Whitwell, MasterChef boss David Ambler and the broader staff. At Zeppotron, MDs Ruth Phillips and Peter Holmes will work with Wilson on a push into the streamer market.
Wilson is understood for operating Fremantle label Talkback and the merged Talkback-Thames enterprise between 2013 and 2019. There his credit included Too Hot to Handle for Netflix, Harry’s Heroes: The Full English for ITV1 and Your Face or Mine for Comedy Central.
More lately, he based the All3Media-backed Great Scott Media, which has grown to show over £14M a 12 months and landed commissions resembling Love Trap for Channel 4 and 10-part Netflix actuality collection Dated & Related. Further again in his profession, he labored on The Graham Norton Show, Dame Edna, Fantasy Football and The Friday Night Project.
Banijay UK boss Holland mentioned: “As well as being a brilliant creative, Leon has phenomenal amounts of energy, enthusiasm, and insight. I’m so delighted that he’s chosen Banijay for the next chapter of his impressive career and I know that the teams in Shine and Zeppotron will benefit greatly from his expertise.”
Wilson added: “I can’t wait to start in this new role and work with the fantastically talented teams at Shine and Zeppotron. I love prisons, being hunted, eating, lying and four-fifths of cats… as well as winning new commissions. It’s literally a dream come true.”