Hilversum, Holland- Marco Bassetti has been named Chief Operating Officer of Endemol Group as Peter Bazalgette prepares to step down as Chief Creative Officer on Jan. 1 2008. Bassetti, who joined Endemol in 1997 and is a former Managing Director of Endemol Italy, will fill the role in the Management Board that has been vacant since March this year. Bazalgette, who was appointed to Endemol’s Management Board as Chief Creative Officer in January 2005 and was also Chairman of Endemol UK, will relinquish both roles but act as an advisor to the Endemol Management Board in 2008. Among other changes in senior management at Endemol, Michiel Buitelaar has been appointed Senior Executive Director Digital Media & New Business; and Pim Schmitz becomes Senior Executive Director Corporate Development and M&A, replacing Arjen van Mierlo, who moves to Executive Director International Operations. Van Mierlo will report to Bassetti.