EXCLUSIVE: Simon Thomas, government producer of Love Island USA, is leaving ITV America to affix Pantheon Media Group.
Thomas, who had been with the corporate for almost ten years, and was most not too long ago President of the ITV Leisure label and Head of Worldwide Programming, will change into Head of Inventive at Pantheon.
It’s a loss for ITV, provided that Thomas has shepherded its hit relationship format, which broke via with its sixth season on Peacock.
He’ll report back to Jennifer O’Connell, who on the finish of final 12 months, was named CEO of Endeavor-backed Pantheon, alongside Steve Michaels as Chairman, along with working Velvet Hammer Media alongside Rebecca Quinn.
Thomas will work throughout Pantheon’s labels, which embody Movie 45, Accomplished+Dusted, and Texas Crew Productions, and can be targeted on international codecs.
O’Connell informed Deadline that “this sends a message that Pantheon is within the codecs sport”.
Thomas was promoted to President of ITV Leisure and Head of Worldwide Programming, in 2022, having beforehand been EVP, Present Programming, West Coast, ITV America.
Along with exec producing Love Island USA, he created spin-off Love Island Video games for Peacock and bought docuseries Love Island: Past the Villa. He additionally oversaw the worldwide rollout of My Mother Your Dad – ITV’s fastest-growing format since The Voice – working with O’Connell when she ran unscripted for HBO Max, which remade the present within the U.S.
He was additionally the unique showrunner of Historical past’s Solid in Hearth and labored on Twin Love for Prime Video, The 4 for Fox and Massive Brother Australia for 9 Community.
Along with quite a few labels, together with its personal inhouse Pantheon Studios, the corporate has a three way partnership with Tyler Perry Studios in addition to investments in UK-based Ladywell Movies, Soho Studios and DARE Footage.
“Simon’s monitor report speaks volumes and completely aligns with our concentrate on huge, daring, and globally business codecs,” added O’Connell. “Having labored with him earlier than, I’m genuinely thrilled to reunite in a more in-depth capability—he’s a real expertise, and I do know he’ll be a game-changer for our crew.”
“Simon’s arrival marks an thrilling chapter for Pantheon as we proceed to scale our artistic ambitions and construct fast-moving, creator-led and globally minded content material,” mentioned Steve Michaels. “He’s one of many sharpest minds within the enterprise, and in becoming a member of Pantheon, he has the very best platform to push unscripted storytelling additional than earlier than.”
“Pantheon has change into one of the vital dynamic content material studios within the enterprise, the place you may transfer shortly, assume huge and make issues occur” added Thomas. “It’s uncommon to discover a place that pairs entrepreneurial spirit with significant affect; approaching board is the proper subsequent step.”
