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Management and production company 42 has named Martin Rakusen as its new chief operating officer, effective immediately. The former FilmNation TV U.K. COO will be responsible for running the company’s operations and business development globally, while overseeing business affairs and production across its portfolio.

Rakusen will be based in 42’s London office and report to CEO and managing partner Josh Varney. The hire follows the exit of David O’Donoghue, who served in the same role but left to take up the position of executive VP International at France’s Studio TF1. The appointment comes as the Los Angeles and London-based company is in post-production on Shane Meadows’ “Chork” and Drake Doremus’ “Next Life,” and in production on “Your Fault,” the sequel to the hit Amazon film “My Fault.”

While at FilmNation TV U.K., Rakusen led all business, operational and financial activity while building and maintaining strategic partnerships.

Los Angeles- and London-based management and production company 42 has tapped former FilmNation TV UK executive Martin Rakusen as chief operating officer.

Effective immediately, Rakusen is responsible for running 42’s operations and business development globally, in addition to having oversight of business affairs and production across its portfolio.

Rakusen will be based in 42’s London office and report to CEO and managing partner Josh Varney. 42 is currently in post-production on Chork by Shane Meadows and Next Life by Drake Doremus and also in production on Your Fault, the sequel to the hit Amazon film My Fault. Clients include Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Armstrong, Claire Denis, Charlie Brooker, Michael Caine, Nicholas Hoult and Lynne Ramsay.

The hire follows the exit of David O’Donoghue, who served in the same role. He joined the company early last year but has left to take up the role of EVP International at Studio TF1.

Rakusen previously...

Studio TF1 is ramping up its presence in the UK and around the world with the appointmennt of former 42 and Universal exec David O’Donoghue to the role of London-based executive vice president of international.

He will report to CEO Pierre Branco.

O’Donoghue, longtime head of studio for Universal International Studios and most recently COO at UK-us outfit 42, is tasked with expanding the company’s scope beyond France and collaborating with the group’s production companies around the world.

He has also worked as COO and joint managing director at UK TV production outfit Carnival Films, which has credits...

Exclusive: After a 12-year run, Rory Aitken, co-founder of London- and Los Angeles-based management and production company 42, is exiting the firm, which will undergo a restructure.

Aitken will be leaving in the coming weeks to form a new company with 42’s Head of Television Eleanor Moran and exec producer Miriam Brent, as well as multiple junior staff.

In turn, 42 partner Ben Pugh will assume a global production role becoming President of Production, unifying film and TV production under his leadership.

Ben Cavey, the company’s current Head of Comedy and Entertainment, will be stepping up into an expanded role as MD of International TV, reporting to Pugh. Cavey is the former Managing Director of UK indie Tiger Aspect (Peaky Blinders) and a former Netflix exec. He will relocate from L.A. to the firm’s London office, and headcount may be added down the line.

Aitken will co-produce a...

Universal Studio Group Chair Pearlena Igbokwe says the “arms race” to sign creative talent on exclusive deals is “subsiding” as the scripted market readjusts economically.

Igbokwe — whose studio houses Universal International Studios, Universal Cable Productions (UCP), Universal Television and Universal Television Alternative Studio — said the big-ticket ‘golden handcuffs’ deals of the past half-decade would become less commonplace and fewer creatives would be able to demand top dollar for their services in the future.

“I don’t know if the arms race that we were in for the last five years is still in effect,” she told journalists at on-record lunch in London yesterday. “I don’t think the agents are very happy at all. There will still be some people who command big dollars but they are proven entities with track records.”

She predicted the days of agents calling the shots and pushing up prices were numbered, as streamers and...

Universal Studio Group has made permanent the interim roles held by Beatrice Springborn and David O’Donoghue, with Springborn becoming President of UCP and Universal International Studios and O’Donoghue taking on the Head of Universal International Studios post.

Universal Studio Group Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe said the pair had “proven to be a dynamic and collaborative duo” over the past year, having served on an interim basis. Springborn joined after a six-year stint with Hulu towards the end of 2020 while O’Donoghue was previously NBCUniversal International Studios’ EVP, Business Affairs & Operations.

Igbokwe added: “Expanding Beatrice’s purview to drive both of these bold, vibrant divisions will expand opportunities for our talent and IP and amplify our global success.”

Reporting to Igbokwe, Springborn will now have oversight of all aspects of Universal International Studios’ slate, with a focus on growing global footprint. She will continue working across the in-house scripted operation, which...