Independent production company Essential Media and Entertainment has announced two executive appointments: Chris Irvine as Commercial Director and Leo Faber as Development Executive – Factual.
Both positions are newly created and in line with Essential Media’s strategic expansion plans both in Australia and North America.
Irvine will be working very closely with Essential Media CEO Chris Hilton focusing on commercial interests and business affairs for the company’s full slate of television drama, factual, kids and factual entertainment – as well as the company’s burgeoning feature film slate.
Irvine joins Essential from SBS Television Australia where he has been Head of Business Affairs in the Content Division since 2007. During that time he oversaw the commercial negotiation and contracting of key network properties including: Top Gear Australia;Who Do You Think You Are; East West 101; Go Back to Where You Came From; and Gourmet Farmer. He also had carriage of the network's terms of trade negotiations. Prior to this, Irvine held legal and business affairs roles at Film4 and Granada Television (ITV Studios) in the UK.
As Development Executive – Factual, Leo Faber is a new addition to the factual team at Essential Media, joining Alan Erson, Head of Factual and Michael O’Neill, Head of Factual Development. He has extensive experience in factual story telling as both writer and producer involved in award-winning programs such as Whatever! The Science of Teens, Miracle in the Storm and Masterchef. Prior to joining Essential Media, Leo was responsible for writing and series producing hundreds of hours of factual programming at companies such as Beyond Productions, Southern Star Endemol and Fremantle Media and has worked extensively for US and UK broadcasters such as National Geographic, Discovery, Channel 4 and ITV.
Essential Media CEO and Executive Producer Chris Hilton said, “We are thrilled to announce these two key appointments at a time of strategic expansion. Both Chris and Leo bring a high level of local and international experience and professionalism to their respective roles and will be huge assets going forward.”