Leonardo Pasquinelli, most recently Managing Director of Magnolia, has been appointed to the role of CEO, Endemol Shine Italy, and will be succeeding Paolo Bassetti.

Endemol Shine Italy has in recent years consolidated its position as market leader with over 40 unscripted and scripted productions airing across 2016 and 2017. These include long running and recently aired formats Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, MasterChef Italia, Next One, The Best Years of Our Lives, Ready Steady Cook, Your Face Sounds Familiar, The Wall and Identity. The latest series of Celebrity Big Brother drew 5.5 million viewers, the highest rated entertainment show in Italy in 2017.

The company’s scripted slate has also grown with recent and upcoming productions including Tangled Lies, The Teacher, The Good Apprentice, Tuscan Passion and the hugely successful Sisters.

Having established himself as an experienced Executive Producer, Leonardo Pasquinelli took the role of Head of Light Entertainment for Mediaset in 1997. In 2004 he joined Endemol Italia, becoming Vice President in 2008. He joined Magnolia as CEO in 2014.

Pasquinelli will assume the role in the forthcoming months following a handover with Bassetti, with senior management within Endemol Shine Italy and ESG also supporting in the interim.