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Endemol Shine Australia merger sees major round of redundancies at production house

Endemol Shine AustraliaThe merger of two of Australia’s biggest production houses Shine Australia and Endemol has led to a major round of redundancies, Mumbrella understands.

Market speculation has it that Endemol is the worst impacted with suggestions of as many as 40 positions gone in the wake of the merger, while other sources have suggested the number is lower, at around half that.

A spokeswoman for the newly merged Endemol Shine Australia would not comment on the exact number of redundancies, but told Mumbrella: “In any merger of two companies there will always be people who choose to leave, roles that are no longer required and similar roles where only one person is required.

“As a result there are always some changes and some departures and in our case it is no different.”

Mumbrella understands that senior Endemol producers, such as John Edwards, Imogen Banks and Mimi Butler, have moved across with many of the redundancies on the more junior level.

The merged entity is responsible for major TV shows such as Masterchef, The Biggest Loser, Big Brother and Deal or No Deal.

Mark and Carl Fennessy

Mark and Carl Fennessy

Late last month, Endemol Shine Australia announced the finalisation of the merger which has been led by brothers Mark and Carl Fennessy who took on the role of the joint CEO, despite announcing their intention to depart the group back in April.

In June it was announced this had been revised and they would be remaining with the company.

“We are truly excited about leading the newly merged business at such an extraordinary period of change within the Australian television landscape,” said Mark and Carl Fennessy, in a joint statement, last month.

“Such a unique combination of personnel and resources brings together the country’s most talented content creators and executives under one roof. It’s definitely a case of one and one makes three.”

Endemol Shine Australia will be based in McMahons Point, Sydney from October.

Nic Christensen 

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