People

Keshet International (KI) has announced the appointment of Nehama Cohen as Senior Vice President of Development & Network, Non-Scripted, a new role aimed at boosting the company's unscripted formats worldwide.

Cohen, reporting to KI CEO Keren Shahar, will focus on creating and developing original non-scripted formats for KI, as well as managing the international roll-out and adaptation of its extensive catalog. Her top priority will involve collaboration with KI's non-scripted divisions, distribution teams, and Keshet 12’s development team to deliver new formats with broad global appeal. Additionally, Cohen will work closely with third-party partners, including Satisfaction Group, with whom KI recently established a creative alliance.

Keren Shahar, CEO of KI, said: “Nehama’s appointment marks a significant step in our strategic focus on non-scripted formats. Her exceptional creativity and extensive experience will be instrumental in accelerating our growth in the unscripted space.”

Cohen confirmed: “Returning to Keshet feels like coming home. With a legacy of groundbreaking content, I’m thrilled to bring my experience and passion to support KI’s mission of delivering innovative and inspiring non-scripted formats to audiences worldwide.”

A seasoned executive with over 20 years in the global television industry, Cohen joins KI after a four-year tenure as Chief Creative Officer at Armoza Formats, part of ITV Group, where she spearheaded non-scripted projects across the company, including hit shows like The Four – Battle for Stardom (FOX), I Can Do That (NBC), and Babushka (ITV). Previously, Cohen served as Managing Editor at Israel's Channel 10, overseeing the development of original primetime content such as Still Standing and format acquisitions like Beauty and the Geek and The Real Housewives. With an impressive resume that includes roles at Erez Tal Productions, Kuperman Productions, and Keshet Broadcasting, where she began her career, Cohen has established herself as a respected figure in content creation.

This year, KI's non-scripted formats have gained traction across multiple regions. Highlights include the U.S. adaptation of the Emmy®-nominated Dear Neighbors as Small Town Setup on Hallmark+, Spain's adaptation of The Hit List for Televisión Canaria, and the physical word search gameshow The Search rebranded as Sopa de letras for Aragón TV. Meanwhile, Boom!, an explosive gameshow by Ido Rosenblum and July August Productions, has made a successful return to Spain, produced by Mediacrest for Mediaset Espana.

Earlier in 2024, KI and Satisfaction Group (SG) entered a multi-territory agreement to foster a creative alliance in non-scripted formats. June saw creatives from both companies converge in Paris for SG’s inaugural International Creative Alliance Days, paving the way for a first-look deal between KI’s German prodco Tresor and Yes Yes Media. Additionally, KI recently announced a co-development project with Ah! Productions for the French adaptation of the Keshet format Together or Never, underscoring its commitment to forging powerful partnerships in the non-scripted landscape.