Bunim-Murray Prods. chairman/CEO Gil Goldschein is leaving after a 20-year run at the pioneering unscripted production company. Goldschein, who was elevated to the supremo role in April 2015, said he plans to pursue other opportunities “at the intersection of technology and entertainment.”
Goldschein will remain with Bunim-Murray (also abbreviated as BMP) until Feb. 15, 2021 to help with the management transition. He took over as CEO of the Banijay-owned company more than five years ago from legendary co-founder Jonathan Murray, who was eager to shift his focus back to producing.
“At heart, I am an entrepreneur with a passion for taking on new challenges, which is why I feel the time is right to leave what has been my home for so long,” Goldschein said in a statement.
Goldschein first joined Bunim-Murray as director of business and affairs in 2001, later becoming general counsel and then chief operating officer in 2007 and president in 2010 before assuming the CEO title in 2015.
He was instrumental in coordinating the sale of the company to Banijay in 2010, and dramatically grew the company’s production output via business areas including BMP Digital, BMP Kids, BMP Latin, BMP Films and the scripted shingle Yellowbird US.
Under Goldschein’s watch, he also continued to nurture the company’s signature franchise “The Real World” (and spinoff “The Challenge”), while also playing key role as executive producer on the company’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” “Total Divas,” “Total Bellas” and much more. Under his watch, Bunim-Murray’s annual series tally grew from five to around 30.
In digital, Goldschein led Bunim-Murray to produce for platforms including Netflix’s “Bill Nye Saves the World,” Facebook Watch’s “Ball in the Family” and Snapchat’s “Endless.” Bunim-Murray’s acclaimed documentaries have included “Autism the Musical,” “Valentine Road” and the recent “Transhood.”
At Banijay, the transition comes as the company has recently restructured following its acquisition of Endemol Shine Group. The combined entity is led by CEO Marco Bassetti.
“Gil has long led a successful operation for us in BMP,” Bassetti said in a statement. “A valuable leader and partner, he has been at the forefront of some of our most prominent brands in the U.S Forging relationships across borders, he has brought a host of innovative IP to the table from around the world, while continuing to grow the business and its offering, and we wish him all the best with whatever comes next.”
Added Goldschein: ““I want to thank Jon Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim for trusting in me and allowing me to partner with them in finding creative solutions for them in the early days. I want to thank Jon for continuing to believe in me in asking me to run the company back in 2007. I also want to thank Stéphane Courbit for bringing BMP under the international umbrella of Banijay and to Marco Bassetti for his ongoing international collaboration.”
Among the kudos Goldschein has landed is two Emmys as executive producer (out of 17 nominations), a GLAAD Award, three CINE Golden Eagle Awards, one Imagen Award, and a Webby Award.
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