Endemol Group, a global leader in entertainment programming, has announced the appointment of Ana Langenberg as the new head of format distribution.

Ana will be responsible for ensuring formats created or acquired by Endemol flow seamlessly throughout the Group and will work closely with Endemol’s operating companies around the world to maximise the value of formats in each territory.

She will also lead the distribution of formats in territories where Endemol currently has no operational presence, the company said in a statement.

Ana joined Endemol’s UK operation in 1998 and went on to become senior manager Format Distribution in 2001 where she was responsible for the distribution of Endemol’s catalogue in Latin America, Portugal, Spain, UK and India.

Ana played a key role in setting up Endemol units in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia and helped establish global formats including Big Brother in Brazil and Mexico, as well as Wipeout, Deal or No Deal and OperaciónTriunfo, the statement added.

She also secured Endemol’s first ever deals in India with Fear Factor, Big Brother and Strictly Dancing. These deals led to the development of company’s Indian operation. In 2004 Ana was promoted to senior licensing manager.

Ana is based in Endemol’s offices in the Netherlands, working within chief creative officer Paul Römer’s team, and reporting to executive director Creative Production Support, Iris Boelhouwer. She will also liaise closely with Endemol’s chief commercial officer Tom Toumazis.

“Ana has an outstanding track record in maximising the value of Endemol’s IP around the world and she has played a pivotal role in the growth of our business in Latin America and India. She is an ideal candidate to lead our format distribution activities and further build our business in this area,” said Paul Römer.

On her new role, Ana said, “Endemol’s creative teams around the world created roughly 170 new formats in 2009 and in addition the company is now investing significantly in third party creativity. I’m very much looking forward to the challenges ahead and to working with Endemol’s leading companies around the world.”-TradeArabia News Service