Endemol, a global leader in entertainment programming, has appointed Lara El Haddad as the new managing director of the company’s operation in the Middle East. She replaces Ziad Kebbi who stepped down in August.

The largest independent television and digital production company in the world, Endemol has several hit programmes running on channels in the Middle East.

Endemol’s credits include international blockbusters such as Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, 1 vs. 100, Star Academy and Wipeout.

A leading executive with eight years experience in the Middle Eastern television market, Lara will be based at Endemol Middle East’s offices in Dubai and Beirut, the company said in a statement.

As a recognized industry expert she has been working for an international consultancy, advising on programming strategies, drama commissioning, channel repositioning and scheduling. She has consistently worked at the highest level with leading producers and broadcasters across the region including LBC and ADMC, it added.

In her new role, Lara will review the company’s business in the Middle East and also plan for a new phase of growth and diversification in the region, the company said.

Martha Brass, managing director, International Operations at Endemol Group, said, “We are extremely pleased to have someone of Lara’s calibre in this role. She has outstanding knowledge and experience and is an ideal candidate to take the success story of Endemol Middle East into a new chapter.”

On the appointment, Lara said, “Access to Endemol’s global resources and content portfolio has been the key factor behind the success of Endemol Middle East. The company couldn’t be more strongly positioned to build on its achievements in supplying leading broadcasters across the region with a rich variety of ground breaking entertainment.”

Endemol Middle East production includes Ton of Cash for ADMC, Deal or No Deal and Fear Factor for El Hayat in Egypt, The Manager for Rotana and Wipeout for MBC.

Endemol Middle East is also working alongside Endemol Sport to produce in depth coverage for ADMC’s HD English Premier League sports channels which launched on August 13 and are broadcast across 22 countries.-TradeArabia News Service