CEO Today USA Awards

21 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today USAAwards 2017 CALIFORNIa ABOUT ALON SHTRUZMAN Alon Shtruzman founded Keshet International (KI), the international distribution and production arm of Israel’s leading commercial broadcaster, Keshet Broadcasting, in 2012. Under his leadership, KI has established offices in seven locations: Los Angeles, New York, London, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Mumbai and Munich, as well as expanding its global distribution footprint to 200 markets to become one of the top-10 most successful format owners worldwide. In the last two years, KI has diversified into kids’ and digital content, gaming/VR, film and established a VC fund for Israeli media start-ups in partnership with Dick Clark Productions. A fraction of the size of its competitors, KI wields a punch above its weight, in line with more established global players like BBC Worldwide, ITV and CBS in terms of its number of format sales by country*. Its offices in LA, London, Mexico and Munich are developing and producing content for their local markets already, with their global counterparts set to do the same in the near future. When he is not racking up airline miles in his global business travels, Shtruzman works out of KI’s LA-based subsidiary, Keshet Studios, which became an instant overachiever in its first full US broadcast network development season. The studio scored two fall 2017 series pickups out of three pilot orders with military drama The Brave at NBC (in association with Universal Television) and tech drama The Wisdom of the Crowd at CBS (in association with CBS Television Studios and Universal Television). Shtruzman serves as an Executive Producer of both, as well as a third untitled drama series KI will co-produce with HBO. Keshet Studios signed a non-exclusive, first-look agreement with NBC in 2015 but many of its US properties pre-date the agreement including Prisoners of War, which through KI was recreated for US audiences as Showtime’s multi award-winning Homeland. Dividing his attention between KI’s US and global businesses, Shtruzman has also driven major growth on the international stage. Keshet UK has received five series commissions this year (including the second season of the critically acclaimed The A ALON SHTRUZMAN CEO of Keshet International Word on BBC One); KI been named the fourth-largest exporter of formats to Asia; and formed strategic alliances with several of Latin America and the US Hispanic market’s broadcasting giants including Telefe in Argentina, Televisa and Azteca in Mexico, MEGA in Chile and Telemundo in the US market. With KI leading the charge, Israel has become the third-largest exporter of TV formats around the world – and with the surge, demand for Hebrew-language content is on the rise globally. Among its offerings are the romantic comedy The Baker and The Beauty, acquired in a global deal with Amazon Prime, and False Flag, which became the first non-English language series to be rolled out through Fox’s global channel network, Fox Networks Group. In addition to Keshet’s signature brand of unique drama, KI has become an innovative global showcase for integrating Israel’s renowned technology into its non-scripted content. For instance, the world’s first real-time voting talent show, RISING STAR, became the fastest-selling talent show format in history at its time of launch due to Keshet’s ability to grasp and simplify the most complex technological challenges in order to create a compelling entertainment experience. KI now has more than 120 titles in its portfolio including those originating in Israel, its local production offices and those it represents on behalf of third-party producers seeking to have KI distribute their IP. Crediting its exceptional storytellers, KI’s Shtruzman – a leading Israeli creative behind a spate of iconic programming commissions (including the series leading to HBO’s In Treatment), a founder of Israel’s multi-channel industry, and a pioneer in both the creation of interactive TV studios and global VOD services – is quick to credit the creative talent for giving the company its leading edge in the global marketplace. He also cites another key factor driving the market: KI’s unmistakable “chutzpah,” which manifests itself in a carefully maintained culture of entrepreneurialism, risk-taking and creativity all championed by its passionate CEO. www.keshetinternational.com *(Source: K7 Tracking the Giants – The Top 100 Travelling TV Formats 2017 – KI ranked joint seventh with the aforementioned companies)