SBS's director of television and online content, Matt Campbell, has left the public broadcaster to become managing director of Shine Australia and New Zealand.
It follows a restructure at Shine Australia, which resulted in local bosses Carl and Mark Fennessy promoted to global roles within the News Ltd-owned reality TV production house.
“I’m disappointed to see Matt leave SBS after seven years and so much success but with his enviable track record of producing and acquiring great content for SBS, it’s not surprising a great offer to join Shine came his way,” SBS managing director Michael Ebeid, who joined the broadcaster last month, said in a statement.
“Matt leaves SBS on a high following our broadcast of the ground-breaking documentary series Go Back To Where You Came From. His impressive list of credits also includes First Australians, Immigration Nation and East West 101 as well as SBS’s most popular programming such as Mythbusters, Top Gear and local favourites RocKwiz, Wilfred and Letters and Numbers.
“SBS will undertake a national and international search for Matt’s replacement in coming months.”
Campbell joined SBS in 2003 as head of programming after living and working in France for 20 years, where he ran a television distribution and production company. He was promoted to director of television and online content in 2006.
Campbell faced several challenges at SBS during his tenure, including inadequate government funding, low ratings, and the controversial introduction of advertising during programs.
Campbell said he was leaving one of the best jobs in the Australian television market, as well as an incredibly capable creative team.
“It’s bittersweet to be leaving SBS at such an exciting time for the network with Michael’s arrival and fantastic, innovative projects in the pipeline but the opportunity to join Shine Australia is a terrific opportunity," he said in a statement.
The Fennessy's set up Shine Australia in January 2010 after leaving FremantleMedia Australia. Their shows are regularly amongst the top-rated in Australia including MasterChef, Junior MasterChef and The Biggest Loser.