Louise Pedersen to Step Down as CEO of All3Media International Following Completion of the Merger
Banijay Entertainment has officially confirmed that Cathy Payne will take the helm of the newly combined distribution business of Banijay Rights and All3Media International. Following the integration, Payne will remain Chief Executive Officer of the combined distribution division, which will operate under the Banijay Rights banner.
Coinciding with the merger announcement, the company confirmed that Louise Pedersen, the long-standing CEO of All3Media International, has decided to step down from her role once the merger is fully completed.
Executive Realignment and Corporate Synergy
Uniting the operations of Banijay Rights and All3Media International creates one of the largest independent distribution networks in global entertainment. The combined catalog will provide broadcasters, streaming networks, and emerging digital platforms with an unmatched selection of global formats and high-end English-language IP.
Leadership Realignment Profile
| Executive | Title / Former Position | Status & New Alignment |
| Cathy Payne | CEO, Banijay Rights | Selected to lead the combined Banijay Rights and All3Media International distribution business. |
| Louise Pedersen | CEO, All3Media International | Stepping down from her executive role upon completion of the merger. |
| Jane Turton | Deputy CEO, Banijay Entertainment | Continues in her role, helping oversee the unified entertainment group. |
Executive Commentary: Combining World-Class Talent and IP
The leadership team emphasized that while the consolidation of intellectual property is central to the merger, the combined depth of distribution talent represents the true engine for future growth.
Jane Turton, Deputy CEO of Banijay Entertainment, expressed gratitude to Pedersen and excitement for Payne’s appointment:
“Working with Louise has been a genuine pleasure. I would like to say a huge thank you on behalf of everyone across the business and wish her all the very best for the future. I very much look forward to working with Cathy as she brings the All3Media International and Banijay Rights businesses together. Cathy is a hugely experienced and respected strategic leader in the world of rights exploitation, and it is an exciting time to be combining these two market leading companies and catalogues.”
Cathy Payne, incoming CEO of the combined Banijay Rights division, highlighted the creative strengths of both libraries:
“All3Media International has long been a beacon for brilliant formats, scripted titles, and premium English-language content that delivers for linear, streamers and new platforms and I look forward to bridging these worlds to bring our clients a first-class entertainment offering across all genres.
“While the IP of course sits at the heart of the combination, for me it’s also about the people. In All3Media International and Banijay Rights, we have an exceptional breadth of talent and uniting them will deliver us quite possibly the strongest team in our space. While it will be some time until we are “one”, I am confident that we will be well-placed to continue delivering growth for the group at-large.”
The operational integration of the two global distributors is now actively underway. Banijay Entertainment plans to share further updates regarding the internal structure, functional departments, and regional sales teams of the unified distribution business as the integration process progresses.
