As Chief Executive Officer for Banijay Americas, Ben Samek oversees Banijay's award- winning independent production studios across two continents with a portfolio that includes scripted, unscripted, documentary, sports and live event content. Demonstrating both creative insight and business savvy, Samek has stewarded the company through a series of landmark mergers and acquisitions that has helped position Banijay in the top tier of global independent content producers for broadcast, cable, streaming and digital media. He also spearheaded the construction of Banijay Studios Brasil, the largest independent production facility in Latin America.

Prior to being promoted to CEO, Samek served as President and COO of Banijay Americas, from 2020-2023. Before that, from 2014-2020, he served in a number of leadership roles at Endemol USA and Endemol Shine North America, playing a critical role in Banijay's acquisition of Endemol Shine Group. He also oversaw the post-merger integration of more than a dozen production labels, creating the TV industry's largest unscripted format portfolio which includes 5000+ formats under Banijay Entertainment.

Samek began his career at Bunim/Murray Productions and later won his first Emmy Award for producing The Amazing Race. He then went on to become COO of 51 Minds Entertainment. Under his leadership, 51 Minds was transformed from a boutique unscripted studio into a $100 million-a-year production juggernaut.

A graduate of California State University, Northridge, Samek serves on the Board of Governors of The Paley Center for Media.