ABOUT
For more than two decades George Levendis has held senior positions as a Global Media Executive across Television, Music and Entertainment. He has the ability to combine creative leadership while consistently delivering double digit revenue and market growth at leading media houses including Syco Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, BMG Entertainment, Arista Records UK, Heaven Music and Antenna TV.
George Levendis is a global television and record executive, and is currently the Executive Producer and Show-Runner of Red Bull’s The Cut. He was the COO of Acun Medya Global, focused on expanding TV formats internationally. Previously, from 2011 to 2018 he was Head of International for Syco TV, a joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. In this role he has been responsible for the international expansion of The X Factor & Got Talent. During his tenure at Syco, Got Talent and The X Factor grew rapidly internationally - Got Talent has been produced in over 70 markets and the X Factor was sold to over 56 markets globally. Prior to this, he was general manager of the Greek television network Antenna, the number 2 station in the Greek market at the time and the largest Greek satellite broadcaster worldwide.
Over the last 20 years, he has held Senior Management and International Marketing positions at a number of music companies, including Arista Records, BMG Greece, BMG Australia, Heaven Music, and culminating as Senior Vice President of Sony BMG Global Marketing at the headquarters of Sony Music in New York City. In this position, he oversaw worldwide campaigns for artists including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Shakira, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Leona Lewis, Il Divo and Westlife. Under his control, Heaven Music was built into one of Greece's most successful independent music companies. He has been a judge on three seasons (2002-2004) of Fame Story (Star Academy) and three seasons (2008-2010) of The X Factor in Greece.
Experienced in content creation, brand development, talent management and global campaigns with a proven track record of success with positions held in New York, London, Sydney, and Athens.
George graduated from the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia, and holds a Master of Arts in Media Management and a Master of Commerce in Marketing.
He currently also serves as a Non-Executive Board Member for Open Beyond TV, a Greek free-to-air media group with interests across broadcast, newspapers, news & entertainment OTT & digital branded platforms.
Wikipedia︎︎
George Levendis is a global television and record executive, and is currently the Executive Producer and Show-Runner of Red Bull’s The Cut. He was the COO of Acun Medya Global, focused on expanding TV formats internationally. Previously, from 2011 to 2018 he was Head of International for Syco TV, a joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. In this role he has been responsible for the international expansion of The X Factor & Got Talent. During his tenure at Syco, Got Talent and The X Factor grew rapidly internationally - Got Talent has been produced in over 70 markets and the X Factor was sold to over 56 markets globally. Prior to this, he was general manager of the Greek television network Antenna, the number 2 station in the Greek market at the time and the largest Greek satellite broadcaster worldwide.
Over the last 20 years, he has held Senior Management and International Marketing positions at a number of music companies, including Arista Records, BMG Greece, BMG Australia, Heaven Music, and culminating as Senior Vice President of Sony BMG Global Marketing at the headquarters of Sony Music in New York City. In this position, he oversaw worldwide campaigns for artists including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Shakira, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Leona Lewis, Il Divo and Westlife. Under his control, Heaven Music was built into one of Greece's most successful independent music companies. He has been a judge on three seasons (2002-2004) of Fame Story (Star Academy) and three seasons (2008-2010) of The X Factor in Greece.
Experienced in content creation, brand development, talent management and global campaigns with a proven track record of success with positions held in New York, London, Sydney, and Athens.
George graduated from the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia, and holds a Master of Arts in Media Management and a Master of Commerce in Marketing.
He currently also serves as a Non-Executive Board Member for Open Beyond TV, a Greek free-to-air media group with interests across broadcast, newspapers, news & entertainment OTT & digital branded platforms.
Wikipedia︎︎
EXPERIENCE
Red Bull Media House
London, UK
Los Angeles, USA
London, UK
Los Angeles, USA
Executive Producer & Show Runner
Apr 2019 - Present
The CUT is a new, priority, music format based out of the U.K. & U.S. Red Bull Media House that pairs unsigned singer-songwriters with emerging producers in a competition to write and produce a brand new song in 12 hours. Winners receive a publishing deal and studio time with Red Bull Songs. Red Bull Media House launched the CUT in key markets in March & April 2020 across Red Bull TV & YouTube.
Reporting directly to Red Bull Media House CEO, the CUT is produced across two key markets, overseeing a 60+ production team and contestants across pre- & post-production as well as working with Red Bull on marketing and distribution strategies.
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Apr 2019 - Present
The CUT is a new, priority, music format based out of the U.K. & U.S. Red Bull Media House that pairs unsigned singer-songwriters with emerging producers in a competition to write and produce a brand new song in 12 hours. Winners receive a publishing deal and studio time with Red Bull Songs. Red Bull Media House launched the CUT in key markets in March & April 2020 across Red Bull TV & YouTube.
Reporting directly to Red Bull Media House CEO, the CUT is produced across two key markets, overseeing a 60+ production team and contestants across pre- & post-production as well as working with Red Bull on marketing and distribution strategies.
Acun Medya Global
Miami, USA
Istanbul, Turkey
Dominican Republic
London, UK
Miami, USA
Istanbul, Turkey
Dominican Republic
London, UK
Chief Operations Officer
Apr 2018 - Apr 2019
Acun Medya are format producers of entertaining and high-quality content. With 2000+ hours of annual prime time broadcast television their worldwide formats include Bake Off, Come Dine With Me, Dancing with the Stars, Deal or No Deal, Fear Factor, Got Talent, My Man Can, My Style Rocks, Ninja Warrior, Power of Love, Rising Star, Survivor, The Voice, The Voice Kids, and Utopia.
Alongside the Global Principal and CEO, as the Chief Operations Officer, we scaled the EXATHLON sports-reality entertainment format globally by overseeing daily operations and strategic initiatives that defined business, legal, creative, digital and commercial strategies. Over this period, Acun Medya secured a multi-year deal with TV Azteca Mexico to produce multiple hours of entertainment programming across the schedule as well as securing multi-season deals for The Voice and The Voice Senior for TV Azteca and Skai TV Greece. Got Talent and Deal or No Deal were confirmed as part of the TV Azteca initiative.
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Apr 2018 - Apr 2019
Acun Medya are format producers of entertaining and high-quality content. With 2000+ hours of annual prime time broadcast television their worldwide formats include Bake Off, Come Dine With Me, Dancing with the Stars, Deal or No Deal, Fear Factor, Got Talent, My Man Can, My Style Rocks, Ninja Warrior, Power of Love, Rising Star, Survivor, The Voice, The Voice Kids, and Utopia.
Alongside the Global Principal and CEO, as the Chief Operations Officer, we scaled the EXATHLON sports-reality entertainment format globally by overseeing daily operations and strategic initiatives that defined business, legal, creative, digital and commercial strategies. Over this period, Acun Medya secured a multi-year deal with TV Azteca Mexico to produce multiple hours of entertainment programming across the schedule as well as securing multi-season deals for The Voice and The Voice Senior for TV Azteca and Skai TV Greece. Got Talent and Deal or No Deal were confirmed as part of the TV Azteca initiative.
SYCO Entertainment / Sony Music Entertainment
London, UK
London, UK
Head of International
Jan 2011 - Apr 2018
As a leading Media and Entertainment Executive at Sony Music Entertainment/Syco Entertainment I reported directly to Simon Cowell regarding global growth strategy for TV and Intellectual Property. Delivered a 100% revenue increase, doubled market sales and secured double-digit growth per annum for all ancillary, new business and sponsorship income.
▲ X Factor grew from 25 to 56 markets
▲ Got Talent grew from 25 to 72 markets
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Jan 2011 - Apr 2018
As a leading Media and Entertainment Executive at Sony Music Entertainment/Syco Entertainment I reported directly to Simon Cowell regarding global growth strategy for TV and Intellectual Property. Delivered a 100% revenue increase, doubled market sales and secured double-digit growth per annum for all ancillary, new business and sponsorship income.
▲ X Factor grew from 25 to 56 markets
▲ Got Talent grew from 25 to 72 markets
Ant1 - Antenna Television Media Group
Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece
General Manager
2008 - 2011
Minimized losses from the Greek economic crisis, as General Manager of the ANT1 Television Network I provided strategic operational management and financial control that delivered the succession plan for the No. 2 television network in Greece with satellite feeds to Australia, Europe, U.K., Cyprus, Canada, and the U.S.
2008 - 2011
Minimized losses from the Greek economic crisis, as General Manager of the ANT1 Television Network I provided strategic operational management and financial control that delivered the succession plan for the No. 2 television network in Greece with satellite feeds to Australia, Europe, U.K., Cyprus, Canada, and the U.S.
SonyBMG Music Entertainment
New York, USA
New York, USA
Senior Vice President - Global Marketing
2005 - 2008
In the face of the rise of Napster and the digital revolution, my role was to focus on developing an innovative and progressive response to international artist marketing strategies for the evolving marketplace, working closely with key labels, Artists, Artist Managers and SonyBMG companies around the globe.
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2005 - 2008
In the face of the rise of Napster and the digital revolution, my role was to focus on developing an innovative and progressive response to international artist marketing strategies for the evolving marketplace, working closely with key labels, Artists, Artist Managers and SonyBMG companies around the globe.
Heaven Music
& Antenna Entertainment
Athens, Greece
& Antenna Entertainment
Athens, Greece
Managing Director
2002 - 2005
Created the first independent company to embrace a 360° artist model that managed every area of an artist’s creative output.
Captured 15% market share within 3 years rising quickly to no.1 independent company status in a market dominated by local repertoire, becoming the most admired, aggressive and creative label with continuing market dominance. Produced and judged the Star Academy format with 40% average and 70-75% final viewer share across 6 channels. Secured the company’s first no.1 record in the first six months, first Greek World Music Award, and 40+ Gold/Platinum singles and albums.
2002 - 2005
Created the first independent company to embrace a 360° artist model that managed every area of an artist’s creative output.
Captured 15% market share within 3 years rising quickly to no.1 independent company status in a market dominated by local repertoire, becoming the most admired, aggressive and creative label with continuing market dominance. Produced and judged the Star Academy format with 40% average and 70-75% final viewer share across 6 channels. Secured the company’s first no.1 record in the first six months, first Greek World Music Award, and 40+ Gold/Platinum singles and albums.
Arista Records
New York, USA
New York, USA
Senior Vice-President - Marketing
1999 - 2002
Directed Arista Records International artist marketing campaigns and PR strategy working alongside Clive Davis, Antonio LA Reid and Sean Puff Daddy Combs. Artists included Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, P!NK, Usher, Puff Daddy, TLC, Outkast, Prince, and the the Notorious B.I.G. to name a few.
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1999 - 2002
Directed Arista Records International artist marketing campaigns and PR strategy working alongside Clive Davis, Antonio LA Reid and Sean Puff Daddy Combs. Artists included Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, P!NK, Usher, Puff Daddy, TLC, Outkast, Prince, and the the Notorious B.I.G. to name a few.
