Gilles
Pélisson

Pélisson is the CEO and chairman of TF1 Group, one of Europe’s leading private broadcasting groups. It has a combined audience share of 32.1% in 2016 for its five free-to-air channels, and a 6.4 point lead between TF1 and its nearest rival, M6. He has implemented an ambitious digital transformation strategy to widen the group’s international presence as well. 

Under Pelisson’s leadership, TF1 Group has streamlined its film division with the launch of TF1 Studio, a French mini-major which aims to compete with other integrated French film groups such as Studiocanal and Gaumont. Since he took the company’s reins, TF1 Studio has been acquiring ambitious and internationally-driven movies such as “Starbuck” helmer Ken Scott’s upcoming “The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir.”

TF1’s music publishing group has contracted artists such as popular French singer and songwriter Matt Pokora, and acquired a minority stake in Play Two, a new independent music producer. The group will soon open an ambitious music venue, La Seine Musical, integrated within the Hauts-de-Seine Valley of Culture project.

Another key pillar of the content creation strategy is the acquisition of 70% of French production group Newen, responsible for Netflix’s first French series, “Marseille,” and Canal Plus’ English-language hit “Versailles.”

A graduate of ESSEC Business School and Harvard Business School, Pelisson previously worked in the hospitality, tourism and telecom industries. He joined Accor in 1983, eventually becoming senior vice president for Accor’s Asia-Pacific region, based in Los Angeles. Pelisson also previously held the positions of chairman and CEO of Euro Disney and CEO and chairman of Bouygues Telecom. He sits on the board of Accenture and has been awarded both the “Légion d’honneur” and the “Ordre National du Mérite” – two of France’s highest awards. He received Variety’s Achievement in International TV Award at the 2017 MipTV trade fair.