Coelen
RDF Media USA CEO Chris Coelen is out after four years at the company.
Coelen announced his exit to staffers Thursday. According to insiders, Coelen’s contract may have been up — and both sides couldn’t come to terms on a new pact.
It’s unclear where the exec might land next.
In a twist of timing, Coelen’s exit was disclosed the same day that RDF confirmed that Natalka Znak, head of ITV Studios’ factual entertainment department, was heading to the U.S. to join RDF USA as exec VP. (See story, page 27.)
In a telling move, Coelen’s name was not anywhere on the press release announcing the hire.
Coelen joined the company in 2006 to launch RDF’s U.S. arm, having previously run UTA’s alternative TV department. (UTA later filed suit against Coelen, charging that he didn’t inform the tenpercentary that he was leaving for the RDF gig; Coelen then countersued.)
At RDF, Coelen oversaw several divisions: Non-scripted RDF USA, scripted shingle Pangea Studios, talent management firm Pangea Management Group and online entity RDF Digital USA.
Earlier this year, Coelen gained oversight of Omnicom Media’s Full Circle Entertainment, under a new venture with the media giant.
RDF series have included ABC’s “Find My Family” and “Secret Millionaire,” which recently moved to ABC after an initial run on Fox. Company was also behind “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” “Wife Swap,” “Hitched or Ditched” and “Addicted to Beauty.”
RDF USA is also moving more into the scripted biz, having presold the U.K. animated pilot “Sky Jockeys” to Fox.
RDF had been on a hiring streak over the past year; Coelen oversaw a staff of more than 50.
It’s unclear how U.K.-based RDF Media Group plans to replace Coelen at RDF USA; for now the company has declined to comment.
Contact Michael Schneider at
mike.schneider@variety.com