Former Keshet International CEO Alon Shtruzman (“La Brea”) and former Bunim/Murray Productions CEO Gil Goldschein (“Keeping Up with the Kardashians”) have joined studio/talent management/sales company 5X Media as its new co-CEOs. The duo will also serve as equity partners in 5X with company founder Scott Einbinder, who launched the company last year. As Shtruzman and Goldschein join 5X, Einbinder will move to a new role as executive chairman in the revised corporate structure.
The news comes as 5X secures a second round of investment, led by initial 5X backer BH Alliance.
“This new infusion of capital represents a tremendous vote of confidence by our investors in our plans to smartly expand in the U.S. and internationally,” said Einbinder, who was previously co-CEO of Cristal Pictures (“The Hitman’s Bodyguard”). “I believe the extraordinary leadership skills of Alon and Gil, who have an unprecedented track record of building successful domestic and international teams and companies, will lead us to prosper. In the weeks ahead, we will be announcing the superb executive team they are assembling, all of whom will apply their unique corporate and creative skill sets to differentiate 5X. “
As founding CEO at Keshet International, Shtruzman sold and produced scripted and unscripted series including “Echo 3” and “Suspicion” for Apple+ TV, “A Small Light” for Nat Geo/Disney+, “La Brea” for NBC and “The A Word for BBC. His other credits include serving as VP, Digital Media, for Fox International Channels. and VP Content for Israel’s Hot.
“With our international-focused approach to the business, we plan to produce and sell everywhere and anywhere,” Shtruzman said. “We believe we can be nimble and adapt to the current climate of the media business. We used to say that content is king but the days of peak TV are over. Now talent is king, serving as the driver for today’s entertainment marketplace. 5X has been built on the integration of talent management and production, with the two key verticals feeding one another. We thrive on great IP and great talent blended with storytelling and passion – all aimed for the creation of winning borderless content.”
As for Goldschein, the exec was CEO of Bunim/Murray, overseeing the growth of series including “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Project Runway,” “The Real World” and “The Challenge.”
Goldschein helped faciliate Bunm-Murray’s 2010 sale to Banijay. He executive produced more than 100 TV series, specials and documentaries, winning two Emmys.
“I am excited to be co-launching a company that encompasses both talent management and production from the ground up at a time in the industry where being nimble, global and more cost effective is a benefit to the buyers,” Goldschein said. “By partnering with Alon and Scott, we are building something truly unique, providing the market with a diversified portfolio of content across multiple genres of storytelling. These include scripted and unscripted TV, feature films, documentaries, podcasts and other projects that are always viewed through the lens of emerging technologies and global markets.”
