EXCLUSIVE: Endemol Shine Australia has been responsible for shows such as CBS’ The Summit, ABC’s Family Food Fight and Paramount+’s NCIS: Sydney.
Now the Australian division of the Banijay-owned production company is looking for more growth in the U.S. and beyond. It has hired Dan Cazzola as SVP, Development to achieve this.
Cazzola will be based in LA and reports to ESA’s Creative Director Elliot Spencer. He has been tasked with expanding its slate of English-language originals and developing “big, bold, and dynamic IP”.
It marks a homecoming of sorts for Cazzola, who spent five years at Endemol Shine North America, where he was SVP, Unscripted Development. He developed and sold series such as NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island and Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge, Disney+’s Foodtastic and Domino Challenge, which aired on broadcasters including France’s M6.
He also oversaw US adaptations of Banijay formats such as Fox’s Lego Masters and The CW’s Would I Lie To You?
Most recently, he was a consultant for Richard Bacon’s Yes Yes Media, working across its U.S. and UK development slate. The company, which is backed by Elisabeth Murdoch’s Sister Group, is behind Who’s In The Band, a music competition series that is in the works at ABC.
Cazzola said, “ESA has the best creative team in the business, and I’ve always admired the work they do. Being back at Banijay and working with ESA on their ambitious growth strategy in the US and internationally to build standout original content is incredibly exciting.”
Peter Newman, Chief Executive Officer ESA added, “ESA’s track record of building defining versions of multi territory, global formats and original IP that travels, is thanks to the world‑class talent we attract. Dan’s exceptional creative vision and proven ability for working with broadcast partners to deliver major original series makes him an outstanding addition to the team.”
English (US) ·