Corie Henson, MrBeast’s studio head, is leaving after just under a year.
The former NBCUniversal unscripted EVP was among a batch of hires with big media pedigrees, reflecting the company’s ambitions to become a Disney-style entertainment colossus.
“Being surrounded by people who care so deeply about making great content has completely changed the way I think about YouTube and storytelling, and I’m incredibly grateful for how generous everyone has been along the way,” Henson wrote in a Slack message that was shared internally by Beast Industries CEO Jeff Housenbold. “After a year away from my family and home, though, I know it’s time for me to get back to them.”
Henson had moved from Los Angeles to Greenville, North Carolina, where MrBeast’s operation is headquartered.
Housenbold said in a Slack message to staff that he would use the transition “as an opportunity to increase our execution while simultaneously strengthening our culture.”
Housenbold said in the memo that the company has “ambitious content plans ahead,” citing Beast-branded content, “Beast Games,” new non-Beast content under Watchtime Studios, “The Most Dangerous Games,” and the development of new IP.
He said he would have “more to share about our broader strategic and organizational plans in the near future,” and added that Henson would “be around for the next few weeks.”
Henson is a product of Hollywood, which hasn’t always mixed with the scrappy creator culture.
“I do not want to be Hollywood,” Donaldson once wrote in an employee guidebook for his team, adding, “Get rid of Netflix and Hulu and watch tons of YouTube.”
Three former employees who worked under Henson said part of her mandate under Housenbold was to bring financial discipline to the video production, known for its elaborate and costly spectacles. The former employees said change proved hard in a company with a history of freewheeling spending and a lack of production planning.
In addition to working on “Beast Games,” Henson had helped develop new verticals focused on food, gaming, and other topics. These are key to Beast Industries’ plan to reduce its reliance on its famous founder.
Other changes have been afoot at the company. Jenny Ramirez, a fellow NBCU alum who Henson brought over as head of creative content strategy, left in June after seven months.
Read the full article here
