Samek (pictured) will now report to Jane Turton, deputy CEO of Banijay Entertainment, and is tasked with driving strategic regional growth across the core content business while also accelerating the organization’s ongoing efforts in digital, live content and sports.

In addition to its combined portfolio of production companies, Banijay America will now house Turnkey Studio Services (TSS), a centralized production services business led by Justin Medeiros as EVP of production and Jacob Cohen-Holmes as head of current programming. Having previously led a similar operation within All3Media America, Medeiros and Cohen-Holmes will provide production support and studio services for Banijay Entertainment’s expanded global stable of prodcos including Studio Lambert, which has long used the service for productions including The Circle (Netflix), Undercover Boss (CBS) and the upcoming psychological reality competition The Mob (Hulu).

TSS will also support other shows across the portfolio such as Homestead Rescue: Intervention (Discovery/HBO Max), Arizona Hot (w/t, Netflix) and Body in the Basement (ID/HBO). Over time, the service will also be extended to third-party labels outside of the group.

In line with the Banijay America integration, Banijay Entertainment has also launched Banijay Latin America, which is dedicated to housing its production businesses and activities in the region. Endemol Shine Latino president Laurens Drillich has been named CEO, with Samek continuing to serve as a board member and consultant to the group.

In a statement, Turton praised Samek as “a hugely experienced leader who has grown and diversified Banijay America, adding a fast developing live, digital and sport business to its world class TV production,” adding that “Banijay America is an incredible platform for talent and IP and the merger of the two businesses is an exciting time for us to invest for growth.”

“Both businesses were built on the same principle, to back exceptional producers and bold ideas,” Samek added. “Bringing them together gives us greater scale and expanded capabilities in the U.S. market… We will remain entrepreneurial and disciplined, investing with clear intent and backing the storytellers and ideas that can create lasting value for the business.”

Last week Banijay Entertainment revealed the restructured team for its freshly combined distribution business, Banijay Rights.

(Photo: Banijay Entertainment)