Adam Valkin, a partner in Arts Alliance and an online media veteran, is leaving the VC house after nine years to join Endemol as its global head of digital media and new business, as the TV maker continues its new line-up. Valkin joins on September 1 and will oversee areas including identification, acquisition and development of business in growth areas for the company responsible for Big Brother and Ready Steady Cook. That suggests participatory TV formats will continue to be the order of the day for Endemol. Valkin’s VC experience may also hint at further investments from Endemol’s digital fund, which has so far taken stakes in MoMedia and Pure Grass Films.
Harvard grad Valkin joined Arts Alliance in 1999 after stints at Barnes & Noble and Firefly Network, becoming the first CEO of Arts Alliance Media‘s Lovefilm DVD rental service. He has a litany of board seats at the likes of Blinkbox and Player X and is a Southwark Playhouse trustee. He will have a London office with Endemol but will be traveling frequently. Endemol lured Fox Kids CEO Ynon Kreiz to be its new CEO last year, under the new ownership of John De Mol, Mediaset and Goldman Sachs. Peter Cowley remains Endemol UK digital director.