Banijay Group has today announced a new change in leadership in Italy. Stefano Torrisi has been appointed to the role of Executive Vice President for Magnolia, a Banijay Group company.
Stefano is currently Executive Vice President of Banijay Spain, overseeing the business’ content and commercial development. His expanded role will see him take on the same responsibilities for local operations in Italy, as well as leadership of Magnolia.
Peter Langenberg, COO of Banijay Group and Chairman of Magnolia Italy, said “I’m delighted that Stefano will be expanding his role to encompass two key markets in which his production experience is second to none.”
Torrisi will take the lead after Leonardo Pasquinelli’s departure as Magnolia’s CEO.
Langenberg added “I would also like to thank Leonardo Pasquinelli for his valuable contribution to the Group. Leonardo has led Magnolia Italy to a leading position in the local market in both creating and producing original formats. I wish him all the very best in his new projects.”
Over the past years, Magnolia has further entrenched its lead thanks to successful shows such as L’Eredità (The Inheritance, prime access leader for the past 16 years), Piazza Pulita, Pechino Express, Bake Off and Quattro Matrimoni (Four Weddings), and carried on its innovation mission introducing new formats such as Il Collegio (The Boarding School), Undressed, Guess My Age, Top Chef and Singing in the Car.
After bringing back on air and revamping L’Isola dei Famosi (Celebrity Survivor), the long-running reality show currently broadcast on Mediaset’s Canale 5 that reached season 13, Magnolia will produce for Rai the new edition of another long-running success, La Corrida (The Bull Ring) – the first people show ever created in Italy, born in the late 60s as a radio show.
Formerly Commercial Director and Chief Creative Officer of EndemolShine Italy, Stefano Torrisi has more than 35 years’ experience in television production on a national and international level. In 1983, he started his career as a freelance writer and producer for Rai Uno until 1995, when he moved to Spain with Europroducciones Group where he worked as Content General Manager and International Development Director. There he spearheaded acquisitions and programme development before establishing an Italian arm and assuming the role of Group CEO until 2013. In October 2014 he became Commercial Director CCO of EndemolShine Italy until the end of November 2017.