Banijay today announces Dutch production label, SimpelZodiak is strengthening its creative team with several new senior hires.
Joining the acclaimed label is Annabelle Aaftink, who will take up the role of Head of Development with overall responsibility of the creative team. Annabel joins from Tuvalu Media where she has been in post for seven years, working with streamers and commercial broadcasters on a slate of content including Kamp van Koningsbrugge.
She will work closely with Stijn Ouwehand, who following success with titles such as Hunted Into The Wild, a locally-created spin-off of global hit Hunted, has been promoted to lead the management of the creative output and programme development. Joining SimpelZodiak is designer and developer Henk Vernout, new casting and development executive Jamy Lee Roy and senior creative producer Vincent Sewalt.
Justine Huffmeijer, Managing Director of SimpelZodiak says: “I’m extremely proud that Annabelle, Henk and Jamy Lee have chosen to join SimpelZodiak. They all have an incredible drive and passion for creativity – and this is at the heart of our company. The same goes for Stijn, who is one of the best creatives in the business with a raft of high-profile shows behind his name. I’m very much looking forward to working with this dream team on new successful series for the international market, as well as if course our customers and viewers in the Netherlands.”
SimpelZodiak is behind local versions of global hits Survivor (known locally as Expedition Robinson), MasterChef, Temptation Island, Hunted, along with their locally created spin-off Hunted Into The Wild, as well as Dutch crime series Kees van der Spek.