European powerhouse Mediawan has appointed Italian film and TV producer Carlo Degli Esposti – who is founder and chief of its Rome-based Palomar shingle – as a member of its board of supervisors and strategic committee.
Degli Esposti in his new role will be involved “in all strategic decisions” at Mediawan, a statement said, adding that he “will make his experience available to the group’s activities in the Italian market and, in particular, for future development operations and acquisitions in this important European territory.”
Mediawan, which is a global production conglomerate comprising more than 85 labels around the world — it recently announced its acquisition of German production-distribution outfit Leonine — is clearly in expansion mode in Italy where, besides Palomar, they are in final stages of acquiring a 51% stake in Our Films, the new company being launched by prominent producers Mario Giananani and Lorenzo Mieli after their recent exit from the Fremantle fold. That deal is expected to fully close in September.
“It’s likely that there will be other Italian acquisitions,” Degli Esposti told Variety.
Founded by Degli Esposti in the 1980s, Palomar is one of Italy’s oldest and most systematically successful production banners, having delivered some of country’s top movies and series over the years, including longrunning hit series “Inspector Montalbano,” the Italian adaptation of “Call My Agent” and the upcoming Bille August-directed limited series “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
Concurrently with his new role at Mediawan, Degli Esposti will take on the role of non-executive president at Palomar, while Palomar’s current CFO, Marco Grifoni, will become Palomar’s co-CEO in tandem with current co-CEO Nicola Serra.
“I am delighted that Carlo, my first and historic partner in the international development of Mediawan, is joining the group’s supervisory board,” said Mediawan CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton. “Thanks to Carlo and Nicola Serra, the integration of Palomar into Mediawan has been extraordinary from the start.”
Commented Degli Esposti: “I am very proud of this appointment, which gives me even more enthusiasm to continue to contribute to the extraordinary development and evolution of Mediawan in Italy.”
