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Rory Callaghan moves from ‘the number one’ to ‘the most dynamic’ TV producer in Australia

Rory Callaghan, who quit as boss of Southern Star at the start of the year, has joined Shine Australia.

Callaghan takes on the role of executive director, reporting to Shine Australia’s president Mark Fennessy and MD Matt Campbell.

His brief is to grow the company’s catalogue of group formats in Australia and New Zealand, and those of Zodiak and Talpa where Shine is the local partner. He’ll also focus on the roll out of new content streams including scripted content.

On leaving Southern Star, Callaghan had said he had been “privileged to have worked at Australia’s number one TV producer.” In a press release issued today, Callaghan said: “In its short history Shine has changed the Australian television landscape and I am thrilled to be joining the most dynamic production company in the country.”

At Southern Star, Callaghan is credited with overseeing growth in its drama output with shows such as Offspring, Rush, Rescue, Spirited, Puberty Blues and Paper Giants. He was also behind non-scripted content such as Deal Or No Deal, and reality franchises Beauty and the Geek and Undercover Boss.

Formerly director of programs at Endemol Southern Star, he was promoted to MD and was made  CEO when Endemol bought 100% of the independent production company in 2009.

His career also includes stint at Granada Productions, the local arm of ITV in the UK. There he brought Dancing With The Stars to Australia. He also worked on formats such as Australia’s Next Top Model and Australian Princess. Before that, he spent 10 years at Nine producing programmes such as The Footy Show, The Logie Awards and The National IQ Test.

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