FRANCE: Philip Livingstone, who has been instrumental in the worldwide launch of the highly successful Who Wants To Be a Millionaire franchise, has been named Executive Director, Worldwide Formats at Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI).
The announcement was made today by SPTI Worldwide Formats Vice President Chris Pye.
In his new position, Livingstone will oversee launch, branding and production issues related to SPTI's licensed formats around the world, focusing on European, African and Middle Eastern markets. Livingstone will report to Pye and will be based in London.
In making the announcement, Pye stated, "The addition of Philip to the team further underscores SPTI's support of and expansion in the formats arena. With Philip's success and experience in this area, we have an even stronger team of talent with which to escalate our format business, and I look 
forward to working with him to augment the contributions of SPTI's Paul Gilbert, Vice President of International Program Development Sales, based in Los Angeles."
Most recently, Livingstone served as Head of International Production at London-based Celador, the creators of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, with responsibility for overseeing the show's creative process in all 102 countries where the show is now airing their own customised versions.
Prior to Celador, Livingstone worked for ECM Productions as Head of International Production, helping to sell and oversee such shows as Lucky Numbers, Love at First Sight, Bzzz and Wipeout worldwide. During his tenure with ECM Livingstone's responsibilities included helping TV stations and production companies make Who Wants To Be a Millionaire in Japan, India, Malaysia, Columbia, Venezuela, Chile and Hong Kong.
As a freelance producer, Livingstone worked for such companies as Grundy, Pearson and Central, producing the United Kingdom section of the American Music Awards two years running as well as many other entertainment programs. He has also worked for London Weekend Television, where he produced such series as Pyramid Game and Blind Date, and for the BBC.