| MUMBAI:
Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced the appointment
of Paul Romer to the new role of programming global head. Romer
will leave his position as Endemol Netherlands MD to assume his new role, where
he will lead and coordinate Endemol’s creative process worldwide. In his
capacity he will manage the global creative team, the group’s network of
creative leaders around the world, and will be in charge of further expanding
Endemol’s creative activities, including acquisition of third party IP. Romer
has been with Endemol for 12 years and was one of the key creative minds behind
the development of the Big Brother format, working alongside John De Mol.
He was the Executive Producer of the very first Dutch Big Brother in 1999,
which launched the format onto the world stage as a pioneering and record breaking
TV and multimedia phenomenon. He was also executive producer of the first Big
Brother in the US which premiered in 2000 on CBS and continues to air on the
network. Romer
will take up his new role on 1st January 2009 and will report to Enemol CEO Ynon
Kreiz. In maximizing the value of Endemol’s creative network he will continue
to work closely with Endemol COO Marco Bassetti, and will cooperate in close liaison
with Tom Toumazis, whose appointment as Chief Commercial Officer was announced
in August. His successor at Endemol Netherlands will be announced shortly. Kreiz
says, “Paul’s outstanding track record has earned him a well deserved
reputation in the industry as a creative pioneer and a highly skilled commercial
operator. He has played a longstanding and central role in Endemol’s success
in the Netherlands as well as being a core part of the group’s international
team. I’m delighted to have him at the helm of our creative process as we
prepare for our next phase of growth." Bassetti
says, “Having worked with Paul for many years within Endemol’s Global
Creative Team I am in no doubt that he is the right person for this role. He has
made a significant contribution to Endemol’s success in innovating global
entertainment properties and couldn’t be better qualified to lead our creative
network.” Römer
says, "Creativity is at the heart of everything we do here at Endemol. The
entire business is dependent on the ideas that come from the company’s exceptional
team of creative talent around the world. I’ve always felt extremely lucky
to be a part of that team and I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role
at such an exciting time for the group." | 
