Deal or no deal? Fremantle says deal and hands Sharon Levy the Americas

MUMBAI: Sharon Levy has walked out of one kitchen and straight into another. Weeks after leaving Banijay, the woman who ran MasterChef in America has been hired by Fremantle as CEO of its Americas and Australia business.

She starts in mid-January 2027, sits in Fremantle’s Los Angeles office and reports to group CEO Jennifer Mullin. She also gets a seat on the company’s global leadership team.

The job is a big one. Levy will run Fremantle’s production operations in the US, Mexico and Australia. That means the production labels, talent deals, buyer relationships, development and the slate. It also means a fat library of formats that includes American Idol. Until now, much of this sat on Mullin’s own desk.

Greg Woods stays on as CEO of Fremantle Australia, according to trade reports.

So why the jump? Banijay’s merger with All3Media earlier this year reshuffled the house. Ben Samek was installed as CEO of Banijay Americas, the division that oversees Endemol Shine North America (ESNA), and Levy’s exit followed soon after. Deadline calls it a rare move, with a production chief hopping from one indie group straight to a rival.

She arrives with a loaded CV. At ESNA she ran MasterChef and Lego Masters, launched Deal or No Deal Island, which ran two seasons on NBC, and The Summit. She also brought Fear Factor back from the dead as Fear Factor: House of Fear for Fox and oversaw Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for ABC. On the scripted side she grew the slate with Netflix’s Ripley and the HBO Max co-production Like Water for Chocolate. She also set up Banijay Launch, an accelerator for creators across more than 30 territories.

Before that she was executive vice president, original series at Spike TV. Ink Master, Bar Rescue, Auction Hunters and Deadliest Warrior all came off her watch. She holds a Peabody, has an Emmy nomination and made The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the most powerful producers in unscripted TV.

Mullin is clearly chuffed. “Sharon is an exceptional executive with a proven ability to build businesses, develop talent and deliver outstanding content,” she said. “Her experience, leadership and entrepreneurial mindset make her the ideal person to lead our businesses across the Americas and Australia as we continue to accelerate our growth ambitions.”

Levy lands in the middle of a shake-up at Fremantle. Distribution veterans Vasha Wallace and Bob McCourt are on their way out, and Kate O’Connell Marsh has been upped to lead global scripted.

Come January, the woman who built America a House of Fear moves into the house that Idol built. Banijay will be watching from next door.