Fabian Tobias To Lead ITV Studios Germany As Christiane Ruff Retires

ITV Studios has hired Fabian Tobias from EndemolShine Germany. He will run ITV Studios Germany and replace Christiane Ruff who will retire in spring 2027 after a long stint running the production business.

ITV Studios Germany makes the local versions of hit shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, The Voice and The Chase, as well as recent breakout format The Werewolves.

Ruff has been running the German business for 13 years and will retire next spring. Filling her shoes, Tobias will report to Lisa Perrin, Managing Director, International Production, based in London.

Tobias joins from Banijay’s EndemolShine Germany, where he also had oversight of Switzerland and Poland. He launched shows including The Masked Singer, Beauty and the Geek and Lego Masters locally while running the German business.

As MD of ITV Studios Germany, he will oversee creative strategy, production, and the development of new shows for the international market, as well as the acquisition of third-party formats.

He has worked for ITV Studios previously, as a Senior Producer on its local versions of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here and Hell’s Kitchen from 2013-2014.

“I am thrilled that Fabian has decided to join us at this pivotal moment for the industry,” Perrin said. “His dynamic leadership, brilliant client and talent relationships, and deep experience of the German market will be invaluable as we evolve the business.”

As Ruff prepares to depart, Perrin added: “Whilst Christiane continues as Managing Director into 2027, I want to take this moment to thank her for what will be an incredible 13 years. Under her watch, our shows have thrived as some of the longest-running and most adored in Germany. I wish her all the best in her next chapter.”