Former StudioCanal and Newen top executive Romain Bessi has joined international production company alliance The Creatives in the newly created role of CEO.
Bessi is charged by the nine member companies of The Creatives with “establishing a unique integrated structure for the international alliance and launching a first financing round for a new form of studio owned by its producers,” the alliance, which has a partnership with Fremantle, said on Tuesday. It touted him as “the European executive who built Newen Studios and StudioCanal into international entertainment studios.”
Bessi has spent 29 years in the entertainment industry in production, distribution, and broadcasting. Most recently he worked at Newen Studios, a division of TF1 Group, where he was chairman and CEO.
The Creatives member companies are The Returned producer Haut Et Court (in France), Lemming Film (Netherlands), Maipo Film (Norway), Razor Film (Germany), Spiro (Israel), Unité (France), Triangle of Sadness maker Good Chaos (U.K.), Masha (U.S.), and Spencer producer Komplizen Film (Germany). The group came together in 2021 as a long-term partnership between the member companies to forge co-productions, strategic joint ventures, share information, and combine networks. The Creatives companies have so far produced more than 330 films and more than 50 TV series.
Bessi said he felt “proud that they chose me and eager to start exploring all the opportunities ahead.” He added: “After almost 30 years in the industry, this feels like the most natural step in my career, and certainly the most exciting. The companies that are part of the Creatives Studios certainly stand out in the industry, and together they bring unparalleled creative and business capacities, which will be further magnified by being part of this group.”
Said Carole Scotta, the CEO of Haut Et Court and founder of The Creatives Studios: “Romain’s commitment to the Creatives is a very strong signal from the marketplace, we are very happy to build a unique form of studio with his experience and understanding of our collective project.”
Added Jonas Dornbach of Germany’s Komplizen: “His vision for combining growth and diversity isn’t just strategy — it’s about reshaping what’s possible in the entertainment industry. With his leadership, we’re ready to push boundaries and take The Creatives to another level.”
