Banijay Rights has expanded its Gaming & Gambling team following its merger with All3Media International.
Mark Woollard has been appointed Senior Vice President of Gaming & Gambling, taking responsibility for Banijay Rights’ gaming and gambling operations as the distributor looks to maximise its expanded portfolio.
Woollard joined the group’s Gambling division, Endemol Games, in 2013 and has since held senior roles including Director of Banijay Brands’ Global Licensing Division and Commercial Director of EndemolShine Gaming.
Andreas Demetriou, who has spent three years at Banijay Rights, will report to Woollard as Sales Manager.
The appointment comes alongside the hiring of David Christopher’s as Group Director of the firm’s Licensing and Merchandising team.
Cathy Payne, Chief Executive Officer at Banijay Rights, commented: “As Banijay Rights embarks on this new phase, these newly strengthened teams – led by David and Mark – bring a wealth of experience to unlock and maximise our expanded portfolio across multiple markets.
“Ahead of Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), we are excited to see them generate new opportunities for off-screen growth and commercial expansion.”
Banijay ‘stable’ ahead of JOA Group takeover
The appointment comes alongside Fitch Ratings reviewing the creditworthiness of Banijay Gaming, maintaining its ‘BB-’/Stable outlook.
That business is currently issuing €500m in new senior secured notes for the purchase of French gaming operator JOA Group as it continues to expand its portfolio beyond its combination with Betclic and acquisition of Tipico.
The additions of Tipico and JOA are expected to make the combined group roughly double the size it was prior to the deals, with widespread revenue streams across Europe despite sizable amounts expected from core markets of Germany and France.
Major shakeups are still highly probable across the wider group, particularly following the aforementioned merger with All3Media.
Debt, however, which currently totals at around a staggering €6.7bn, is expected to be brought back to safer levels due to anticipated organic growth as the combined group looks to kickstart a new era across multiple realms.