Banijay Unveils New Leadership Structure for Scripted, Promotes Steve Matthews and Johannes Jensen

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European television powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, known for its over 60 labels that recently created series like “Rogue Heroes,” “Ripley,” and “The Rig,” is reshaping its international scripted department by broadening the responsibilities of two key executives.

In the revised organizational setup, Steve Matthews takes on the role as head of scripted, creative matters, while Johannes Jensen assumes responsibility for scripted, business aspects. Both will collaborate closely, with their combined efforts being overseen by our current Chief Business Officer, Frédéric Balmary, who will continue to guide the overall strategic vision.

In January 2023, HBO alum Matthews began working at Banijay as a Contents Partnership Executive. He reports directly to Christian Wikander, who held the position of global head of scripted until his departure in February 2024. Since starting, Matthews has implemented several strategies to promote collaboration among Banijay’s international labels and established the Banijay Bootcamp, a program designed to connect in-house development executives with budding writers.

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In his new position, Jensen’s responsibilities have expanded to include overseeing the financial and operational strategies of Banijay Nordic’s scripted division, in addition to his existing role as head of scripted. Previously, he managed two separate banners, Jarowskij and Yellow Bird, which have now been combined into one entity known as Jarowskij/Yellow Bird.

Jensen’s duties have grown to encompass the financial and operational planning for Banijay Nordic’s scripted division, in addition to his current position as head of scripted. Earlier, he was responsible for two distinct production companies, Jarowskij and Yellow Bird, but they are now combined under one company called Jarowskij/Yellow Bird.

Balmary stated, “Our lineup, which includes both new sensations and proven successes, is thriving. It’s earning prestigious awards and receiving widespread praise from critics. We are extremely proud of our producers’ accomplishments in this field. As we move forward, the expanded positions for Steve and Johannes will enhance our creative and business expertise, helping us to remain innovative and set trends on a global scale.

Additionally, seated within the revamped central creative division is Denis Leroy, a senior director who excels in procuring and nurturing international scripted formats and literary works from books. Leroy has successfully overseen adaptations such as “SKAM,” “Fleabag,” and “La Caza. Monterpedido” in France, and has negotiated many deals for renowned French intellectual properties like Franck Thilliez and Michael Bussi.

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2025-01-27 13:49