Biography

Internationally revered and respected, Mark Fennessy is an innovator, entrepreneur and creator of premium content across all facets of the production industry. Having steered independent production label Crackerjack before forming FremantleMedia Australia, to launching the powerhouse Shine with brother Carl and Elisabeth Murdoch, to overseeing the merger with Endemol to create the juggernaut Endemol Shine Australia, Mark is synonymous with the production pillars of the Australian television industry.

As well as his accomplished business acumen, Mark has overseen an extraordinary portfolio of television franchises and super brands which cross genres - from unscripted blockbuster hits to critically acclaimed (and wildly popular) scripted content - which has seen him ranked no 1 in the Australian Financial Review's Cultural List.

Beyond his achievements as a business leader, Mark is an active producer and executive producer of premium dramas with recent and notable credits, including Neighbours, RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, Lambs of God, Wake In Fright, Mystify, Sisters, Blue Murder/ Killer Cop, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door (which won an impressive 7 x AACTA Awards), Catching Milat, The Beautiful Lie, Offspring and INXS: Never Tear Us Apart.

Mark has carved out an extraordinary reputation for success with unscripted blockbusters such as MasterChef, Australian Ninja Warrior, Married At First Sight, Farmer Wants a Wife, The Voice, Australian Survivor, Project Runway, Australian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Grand Designs, Australia's Next Top Model, Lego Masters, Australia's Got Talent and The Bachelor. Original concepts and productions include The Choir of Hard Knocks, The Gift, Jamie's Kitchen Australia, Newstopia, Chaser Non Stop News Network (CNNN), Comedy Inc, Backberner and Family Food Fight.

Helium is the culmination of Mark's strengths, passions and expertise. A vibrant, contemporary label for a rapidly changing landscape Helium combines proven expertise with impeccable relationships and draws on the power of new partnerships. Having only launched in 2021, Helium already boasts an impressive slate. Scripted productions include Last King of The Cross (2 x seasons), Paper Dolls, 6 Festivals, and 3 x new series to be announced in 2024. On the unscripted side, We Interrupt This Broadcast, Australia's Most Identical (Twins), Ultimate Escape and The Assembly. In Premium factual there are announcements coming on both feature series and documentary.

In 2017 Mark received an Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to the broadcast industry as an entrepreneur and innovator. It's an extraordinary success story boasting a stellar list of ratings hits across 20 years as an industry pioneer and trailblazer.