Mark Fennessy

Joint CEO, Shine Australia

Mark Fennessy is Joint CEO of Shine Australia.

Prior to setting up Shine Australia in January 2010, Mark formed and led one of Australia’s most highly respected boutique production companies, Crackerjack. Crackerjack was responsible for successful brands such as; Comedy Inc, Chaser Non Stop News Network (CNNNN), The Chaser Decides & Newstopia, along with original factual projects such as The Choir of Hard Knocks, The Gift, Jamie’s Kitchen Australia, Backberner, Australia’s Brainiest, The King (Award-winning telemovie) and Pardon The Interruption.

In 2006, Crackerjack merged with Grundy Television to form FremantleMedia Australia with Mark appointed to the role of CEO. Mark oversaw an impressive slate of 19 productions including; MasterChef, Neighbours, Australian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, The Biggest Loser, Project Runway, The Farmer Wants a Wife & Australia’s Got Talent - making the company the largest independent production company in the southern hemisphere.

Prior to Crackerjack, Mark spent more than ten years as an Executive Producer both at Nine and at MTV Networks rising to the Head of MTV Australia at the age of 26. During this same period, Mark was Executive Producer of five Olympic Games Broadcasts.

In 2009, Mark was personally selected by Elisabeth Murdoch to head up the Australian division of leading international production group, Shine. Since launching in early 2010, Mark has overseen the successful placement and roll out of productions such as The Voice, MasterChef, The Biggest Loser, Australia’s Next Top Model, Beauty And The Geek, SlideShow, Aussie Pickers and Location, Location, Location.