Will Keenan is leaving Endemol Beyond USA after two years of heading the digital-focused division established by the global production company.
Endemol Beyond USA chief operating officer Adrian Sexton, who joined the company last September, has been named interim president with Keenan’s departure.
“These last two years as president of Endemol Beyond USA have been monumental for me. I’m extremely proud to have spearheaded the creation of, and laid the foundation for, one of the fastest-growing and most award-winning digital networks in North America,” Keenan said in a statement.
Keenan added that he is “very excited to soon announce my next adventure,” without providing details. Prior to joining Endemol in November 2013, he was VP of vertical development and programming at Maker Studios (now owned by Disney).
“Clearly, we are all going to miss Will, and we truly appreciate everything that he has done to successfully launch Endemol Beyond here in the U.S,” Vivi Zigler, president of digital, brand and audience development for Endemol Shine North America, said in announcing the changes.
Before coming to Endemol Beyond, Sexton was head of digital at Participant Media, where he launched TakePart.com and worked on Oscar-winning documentaries including “An Inconvenient Truth” and “The Cove.” Prior to that, Sexton was head of digital and business development at Lionsgate.
Endemol also announced three executive promotions in the digital group. Rico Martinez has renewed his contract and has been named SVP of creative for Endemol Beyond USA, and Leslie Morgan, who is in charge of all lifestyle programming, has been named VP of programming. SVP of sales Jeff Browning will continue in his role and has added oversight of integrated and social marketing. Martinez, Morgan and Browning all now report to Sexton.
During his tenure, Keenan signed a few major digital stars to be part of Endemol Beyond USA network. His biggest catch: Michelle Phan, a YouTube beauty vlogger and entrepreneur who cut a deal with Endemol to create the Icon Network, a digital lifestyle network aimed at female audiences.
