Banijay Group, the world’s largest independent content creation group for television and multimedia platforms, has appointed Frédéric Balmary as Chief Operating Officer of Banijay Studios International.
In this newly created position, Balmary will oversee business development for Banijay’s scripted activity through both merger and acquisitions operations as well as organic growth. He will report directly to Takis Candilis, Head of Scripted at Banijay Group, working with the existing scripted team and the local Head of Finance and Legal out of Banijay’s Paris office.
Prior to his new role Frédéric Balmary was Banijay Group Deputy CFO. He joined Banijay in 2011 in the Central Financial Team. Balmary started his career as a financial auditor at Ernst & Young before joining the financial advisory for corporate restructuring at Ernst & Young where he worked in the automotive and media sectors.
This new addition to Banijay’s scripted team follows the recent appointment of award-winning producer Camille Gatin as International Producer for Banijay Studios France. Based in Paris, Gatin is responsible for international scripted series such as the recently announced drama Farewell Shanghai, an extensive co-production to be shot in China in English and in Chinese by Breakout Films (France); France Televisions (France 2) and Banijay Studios France; K’ien Production; Holy Mountain Films and Shanghai Media Group Pictures (China); AMPCO Studios (Australia) and NDF (Germany).
With a diverse slate of award-winning productions including Shadow Dancer, Gatin was previously CEO of Golden Arrow Pictures and Scary Monster Pictures and Head of Development and Production at Unanimous Pictures.
Takis Candilis comments, “As our international scripted business continues to expand I am extremely pleased to have appointed Frédéric in this significant role. Banijay Studios International has huge potential to pursue growth by leveraging the development of the broad fiction activity across our Group and Frédéric has the experience and skills to ensure that this task is delivered to the benefit of the entire scripted team. It is also a pleasure to welcome Camille. We recently announced a number of high level international projects which have just started production. Her knowledge and hands on experience will be invaluable for us and our partners going forward.”