Endemol Shine Group announced its new commercial partnerships team, bringing together the Shine 360° and Endemol international teams under one roof.

The newly-formed team will connect and support Endemol Shine Group’s local commercial teams around the world, sharing ideas, innovation and best practices.

Areas of focus will include international brand partnerships, licensing and merchandising, brand management and digital products.

Branco Scherer, newly appointed managing director, commercial partnerships, will oversee the new team. Scherer's responsibilities include identifying and investing in new strategic opportunities and ventures both from within and outside the company.

He will be joined by Lorraine Burgess, who takes up the role of director of commercial and digital development.

Frances Adams, director of brand development, also joins the new team, focusing on brand management for global properties generating significant licensing and merchandising business, including established franchises such as “MasterChef,” “The Biggest Loser” and “Mr Bean.” 

Also joining the commercial partnerships team are Ingrid Akkerman, director of brand relations, and Mark Rosenegk, director of brand partnerships The pair’s remit includes rolling-out local brand partnerships internationally and managing multi-territory sponsorships, product placement and brand integration deals across platforms. Akkerman and Rosenegk will work hand-in-hand with Endemol Shine Group’s branded content teams around the world including the sales and brand partnership teams at the company’s digital channel network Endemol Beyond.

Tom Jeans joins as director of commercial and business affairs. Working alongside Rosenegk, Jeans will be responsible for initiating and rolling-out international licensing deals whilst also supporting the company’s teams around the world with local deals in each market.

Karen Maldoy, senior manager, digital products, and Joe Pietroni, director of app development, will oversee the development of in-house digital products. 

“Bringing together the people behind the success of Shine 360° and the Endemol commercial board creates a world-class team of commercial talent with an exceptionally broad range of experience and expertise,” says Scherer. “The key objective is to connect and support all our local commercial talent around the world, while exploring opportunities in new areas of business with exciting worldwide potential.”