Banijay Promotes Cris Abrego To Top Americas Role, Overseeing Operations In U.S. And Latin America

Following its acquisition of Endemol Shine, global unscripted producer and distributor Banijay has elevated Cris Abrego to a new overarching role, as the company lays out the final structure for its operations across the Americas. 

Abrego, previously CEO of Endemol Shine North America and Chairman, Endemol Shine Americas, is now Chairman of the Americas, Banijay, and President and CEO, Endemol Shine Holdings, responsible for North America and Latin America. He’ll report to CEO, Marco Bassetti.

“Cris has long been a significant figurehead in the US content ecosystem. Respected, creatively triumphant and a driver of positive change, he has all the qualities to strategically and effectively lead one of our largest territories,” Bassetti says of Abrego’s promotion. “With nine labels split across North and Latin America, spanning everything from entertainment to scripted, he has oversight of some of the region’s most celebrated IP and we’ve no doubt our pipeline and reputation will only soar under his leadership.”

Abrego’s full portfolio of award-winning businesses now includes Endemol Shine North America, Bunim/Murray Productions, Authentic Entertainment, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment, Stephen David Entertainment and YellowBird US. He will also continue to have full oversight of Endemol Shine Latino, the company’s Spanish-language sales and development arm that leads all original programming initiatives across Latin America, including Mexico City-based studio Endemol Shine Boomdog and Endemol Shine Brasil in Sao Paulo. Banijay Studios North America will continue to be run independently by President and CEO, David Goldberg.

“I am truly excited about this new role and the opportunity that it allows me and our team to continue building on the tremendous momentum we’ve created at Endemol Shine over the last five years across North America and Latin America,” states Abrego. “I’m also looking forward to working closely with Marco and our new Banijay colleagues here in the U.S. and around the globe. Together we are now home to many of the biggest titles in our industry and our teams are currently developing the hits of tomorrow.”

The promotion brings Abrego full circle to where he started his career over 20 years ago. In his new role, he has added oversight of three new studios, including Bunim-Murray, where he worked in production on MTV reality shows The Real World and Road Rules. 

Abrego is a former co-founder and chief executive of 51 Minds Entertainment, recognized for pioneering a new genre of unscripted programming celeb-reality series The Surreal Life, launched in 2003. Through 51 Minds Entertainment, he went on to produce several other hit celeb-reality series for VH-1, including Flavor of Love and Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. At its height, his company was producing more than 150 hours of programming a year for VH1 alone. Endemol acquired 51 Minds Entertainment in 2008, bringing him into the global company’s ecosystem.

Abrego is one of the highest-ranking Latino television executives, who has made inclusion a top priority for his team at Endemol Shine. He has indicated he will continue to drive this narrative in his new expanded role.