Reardon
Reality producer GRB Entertainment, the outfit behind "Growing Up Gotti," is spinning off its international distribution division into a separate company, GRB Worldwide.
This entity, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Mip TV trade show in Cannes, will focus on action hours for the international market.
The new outfit will be headed by Gavin Reardon, who has been promoted to president of GRB Worldwide from his current role as senior veep for GRB Entertainment, a post he has held for five years. Reardon will have a stake in the new entity and continue to report to GRB Entertainment prexy-chief exec Gary Benz.
In addition, Reardon plans to work closely with outside producers developing co-production and acquisition partnerships.
Aim of the new entity is to deliver 60 hours of fiction by the end of the first year. (GRB Entertainment will continue its domestic focus on reality series, with eight currently on air Stateside.)
GRB Worldwide is already close to a deal with an unspecified German partner on several projects.
"Our initial entree into this arena was our deal with Joel Silver's Zinc Entertainment, where we agreed to co-produce and distribute five TV movies over the next two years. This venture was the catalyst for GRB Worldwide," Reardon said.
GRB distribution staffers Marielle Zuccarelli and Gary MacKinney will segue with Reardon to be part of the GRB Worldwide team.
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