Banijay UK has acquired producer Natalka Znak’s indie, ZnakTV and appointed her as CEO of both Remarkable Entertainment and Initial.

In addition to continuing to run ZnakTV in the US, Znak will lead Remarkable Entertainment and have oversight of Initial. The slates of Remarkable and Initial include some of the UK’s biggest entertainment shows including Pointless, Starstruck, The Wall, Soccer Aid, Tenable and Big Brother. As CEO across all three companies, she will take a strategic role and continue to pitch to broadcasters and platforms on both sides of the Atlantic.

Znak’s most recent credits include Masquerade Ball, Ultimate Tag, Revolution and Meghan Markle: An American Princess for Fox, 30 Days With: Bret Rock for YouTube as well as the Netflix hit, I am a Killer. Znak also serves as the long-running co showrunner of Masterchef US and Masterchef Jr. for Fox.

Lucinda Hicks, CEO Banijay UK said, “Natalka is utterly unique. No one has a track record for entertainment hits like her and combined with her razor-sharp commercial acumen and fantastic relationships in both the UK and US, she is an incredibly exciting appointment for Remarkable and Banijay UK.

“We have hugely talented teams within both Remarkable Entertainment and Initial, and bolstered by Natalka’s dynamic leadership, new ideas and relationships, we are really supersizing our entertainment ambitions.”

Natalka Znak added, “I am incredibly excited to work with all the talented people at Remarkable and Initial. Together, I know we will create TV’s next big hits. And, Banijay also has all my favourite shows in their formats catalogue.  I can’t wait to get stuck in”

Earlier in her career, Znak served as CCO and then CEO of Zodiak USA where she produced shows such as Secret Millionaire (ABC), Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC), and truTV hits Hardcore Pawn, Lizard Lick Towing and Killer Karaoke. Prior to joining Zodiak, Znak served as Controller of Factual Entertainment for ITV Studios where she was responsible for creating I’m Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, Hell’s Kitchen and Love Island, and earned multiple awards, including two BAFTA’s, Royal Television Society Awards and National Television Awards.

Remarkable Entertainment’s senior team including Creative Directors, Cat Lawson, Tamara Gilder and Richard Hague reporting into Natalka. Co-MDs Cat Lynch and Katy Manley will continue to run Initial, reporting into Natalka also.

Reporting to Lucinda Hicks, Znak will take up the role at the end of the year.  At Remarkable, she will work closely with recently appointed head of Remarkable Factual and RDF, Kitty Walshe.  At Initial, she will support joint Managing Directors Cat Lynch and Katy Manley’s ambitions to grow the company into new markets.

Znak and Znak TV were represented in the negotiation by Matt Angel of Aquilanta.

Jon Creamer

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