After seven years with Southern Star, Hugh Marks announced that he is stepping down from his role as chief executive of Southern Star Group. The announcement follows the recent acquisition of Southern Star by global production company Endemol and the subsequent merger of the distribution businesses of Southern Star and Endemol, headed up from London by Cathy Payne. Marks will continue to assist Southern Star in an advisory capacity. Marks is also establishing a new business, Media Venture Partners, that will provide advisory services on the development, funding and production of content and content based ideas to producers and distributors. Endemol also announced that Rory Callaghan has been appointed as chief executive of Southern Star, effective immediately. Rory has been with Southern Star since January 2006, first as director of programmes then subsequently taking up the role of managing director in 2008.