Keren Shahar was confirmed as the new CEO of Keshet International

With over 20 years of experience in the international entertainment industry, Keren Shahar has been confirmed as the new CEO of Keshet International. Shahar will commence her new role on January 1, 2023, replacing Alon Shtruzman, who leaves the global content producer and distributor at the end of this year, having led the company for a decade.

Widely regarded as one of the leading pioneers of the Israeli formats sales market, Shahar first joined Keshet Media Group in 2004. In 2006, she was appointed Keshet Formats Manager, overseeing the sales of Keshet's formats abroad. Two years later, she took on responsibility for Keshet Broadcasting's Acquisitions department, licensing formats such as “The Money Drop,” “Make Me A Baby,” and “MasterChef.”

When Shtruzman joined as CEO of the newly established Keshet International in 2012, Shahar was appointed to lead the company’s sales team, and after a brief time, also stepped up to take on the role of COO, becoming Shtruzman’s second in command. During her 10-year tenure, which also involved her overseeing business and operational aspects across the company's activities, Shahar has been responsible for the distribution of many of Keshet’s scripted formats, such as “Prisoners of War,” “False Flag” and “When Heroes Fly”; as well as best-selling non-scripted formats such as “Boom!,” “Singletown,” “Deal With It!,” “The Hit List,” and “Rising Star,” among many more.

As CEO of Keshet International, Shahar will be responsible for all the company's activities, including its network of production companies and distribution hubs - Keshet International in Tel Aviv, Keshet UK, Tresor and Keshet Tresor Fiction in Germany, Keshet Studios in the United States, and a majority stake in Greenbird Media. She will be tasked with expanding the company’s international production output further, while also boosting its curated catalog of international dramas, factual entertainment shows, and formats with a view to also building the distribution side of Keshet International’s business.

“Having the privilege of leading a company like Keshet International is far beyond what I could have imagined when I first started at Keshet 18 years ago. I just wanted to be around the people who ‘made television.’ I’d like to thank Alon for his mentorship and friendship, and for showing me what infinite optimism can achieve. Thank you also to the Keshet board, and to Avi in particular, for all his support and multiple votes of confidence over the years. Last but not least, I want to thank the extremely talented group of people who ‘make television’ at Keshet International. I am looking forward to our next chapter together and seeing what we can achieve in our second decade,”  Keren Shahar declared.

Avi Nir, CEO of Keshet Media Group, added: "I'm happy to announce the promotion of Keren to Keshet International's CEO. Keren will lead the international activity from the Tel Aviv office from January next year. Thanks to her experience, competence, and her many skills, Keren has taken Keshet International and Israeli TV, along with the rest of the management team at Keshet International and Keshet, to new horizons. Good luck from all of us at Keshet, Keren."