About
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Cris Abrego was named CEO, Endemol Shine North America and Chairman, Endemol Shine Americas, in November 2016. Cris oversees both the North American and Latin American divisions of Endemol Shine Group, the global independent production company with a diverse portfolio of companies behind some of the most prominent hit television series in the world. The former Co-founder and Chief Executive of Endemol Shine-owned studio 51 Minds Entertainment, Cris is one of the leading creators and producers of reality television in the U.S., recognized globally for pioneering a new genre of unscripted programming with the breakout celeb-reality series, “The Surreal Life.” He currently oversees all of Endemol Shine North America’s programming, including hits such as “Big Brother” (CBS), “MasterChef” (FOX), “Fear Factor” (MTV), “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo), as well as the upcoming return of “Trading Spaces” (TLC). Cris also leads Endemol Shine North America’s portfolio of industry-leading subsidiary production companies, including Authentic Entertainment, Truly Original and 51 Minds. Additionally, he has oversight of Endemol Shine Latino, the company’s Spanish-language division that leads all programming initiatives across Latin America. As one of the highest-ranking Latinos in television, Cris has made inclusion a top priority for his team at Endemol Shine and within the wider entertainment industry, as well. He recently launched a fellowship program with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation focused on creating opportunities within the industry for diverse students. In 2013, Cris started a scholarship fund at his alma mater, Mountain View High School in El Monte, which provides college tuition and additional resources for student athletes. In 2016, Cris released his first book, “Make It Reality: Create Your Opportunity, Own Your Success.” He is a member of the 2018 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
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