Exciting New Leadership: Steve Matthews and Johannes Jensen Named Co-Heads of Scripted at Banijay Entertainment

Banijay Entertainment is kicking off 2025 with exciting changes in its scripted division. The French production company recently announced the promotions of Steve Matthews to head of scripted creativity and Johannes Jensen to head of scripted business. Both will report to Frédéric Balmary, the chief business officer.

Balmary expressed pride in their growing scripted offerings, highlighting the mix of new hits and returning favorites that have earned awards and acclaim. He believes that the new roles for Matthews and Jensen will enhance both the creative and business aspects of the company, helping them stay innovative on the global stage.

Matthews, who joined Banijay in 2023, has been instrumental in enhancing storytelling opportunities through initiatives like the Banijay Bootcamp, which connects emerging writers with established executives. Jensen, formerly the head of scripted for Banijay Nordic, brings valuable experience from leading production companies Jarowskij and Yellow Bird.

According to Matthews, supporting and empowering editorial teams is key. He emphasizes developing strong partnerships across Banijay’s scripted network, which he believes will boost the company’s reputation for high-quality storytelling. Jensen echoed this sentiment, stating that success in today’s competitive market relies on creating and leveraging a valuable slate of scripted intellectual property. He believes this new structure will ensure that creative talent and business strategies work hand-in-hand to maintain global influence.

Some of Banijay’s recent successful titles include “Ripley,” “The Rig,” “The World According to Lidia Poët,” “A Remarkable Place to Die,” “NCIS: Sydney,” and “Like Water for Chocolate.”