Super-indie Argonon has appointed Joe Weinstock to the newly created role of chief executive, Argonon USA, reporting into global CEO James Burstall.
Argonon, a global production group headquartered in the U.K. and U.S., has a joint venture with Scottish indie production companyBandicoot, founded by Daniel Nettleton and Derek McLean, which makes the U.K. version of “The Masked Singer” as well as “The Masked Dancer.”
Weinstock co-founded Rose Rock Entertainment in a joint venture with Argonon in 2022. The group continues to scale up its U.S. operations with a core focus on the West Coast. Burstall becomes executive chair, Argonon USA, and will work closely with Weinstock to deliver the group’s U.S. growth strategy.
Confirmed commissions at Rose Rock include a currently unannounced series in production for a U.S. network and a one-off event TV show. Weinstock also has several projects in funded development with a range of networks. Argonon’s U.S. labels include “House Hunters International” producer Leopard USA.
Weinstock will continue to lead Rose Rock Entertainment, working from offices in Oklahoma and Los Angeles, and will work closely in his new role with Los Angeles-based Leopard USA chief creative officer Lindsay Schwartz and Argonon USA COO Steven McGovern, who was appointed earlier this year.
Burstall said: “One of our key strategic aims is rapid expansion of our U.S. business and Joe offers a unique pan-America perspective, based out of Oklahoma in the heart of the USA, but closely networked into commissioners and decision-makers on the West and East Coasts. This is the first appointment of a dedicated CEO for our U.S. business and I look forward to working even more closely with Joe, whose unrelenting drive, creative and commercial acumen and collaborative approach aligns with our ambitions and values. His track record in winning commissions, expertise in finding great stories and characters, and reputation for delivering high quality content makes him ideally placed to partner with our talented teams and lead the group’s growth plans for the U.S.”
Weinstock added: “We recently completed an extensive series of meetings with U.S. networks and streamers and are encouraged that the American and global creative economy is stirring back to life, offering new opportunities for 2024 and beyond across our labels. I am excited to take on this new role working with the talented teams in Los Angeles and New York, as we look to ramp up our commissions, expand our slate of genres and content, and accelerate Argonon’s growth in the U.S.”
Argonon shows also include “Hard Cell” (Leopard Pictures for Netflix), “Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard” (Windfall Films for BBC One) and “Dispatches” (BriteSpark Films for Channel 4).
