Youssef El Deeb

Profile
Senior Film and TV executive with an entrepreneurial spirit and a unique mix of experience spanning: Founding and leading a unique TV brand, award winning film producer, award wining film writer and director, creator of successful TV program franchises, corporate governance and major ethical financial practices improvements, organizational policy development, underpinned by a comprehensive understanding of the Middle East media  sector.

Experience

CEO, PICTURE POND MEDIA FZ-LLC — 2013-Present
A film and TV content creation company. Currently with 2 scripted TV programs and one feature film in development.

Writer, director, producer, ‘LOVE’s IMPROVISATIONS — 2012
An experimental Arabic feature film. It premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival and screened at the St. Tropez and Madrid film festivals . The film also won it’s lead talent ‘Best Actor’ at the London International Film Festival.

Founder - Chairman/MD, Takhayal Entertainment - FATAFEAT TV — 2005-2013
Created and managed the very successful FATAFEAT TV,  and dozens of it's shows - a niche TV brand that consistently scored higher ratings than most Pan Arab channels among housewives in KSA. Based on the platform of  food and ‘Al Hayat Helwa’, the channel produced 180 hours per year and created all its services in-house. It was sold to Discovery Networks in 2013, therefore becoming the first Arab TV brand to become internationally owned. 

Executive Producer, ‘Al Abaa Al Seghar' & ‘Kass Wa Lazk’ feature films 2005-2006
‘Al Abaa Al Seghar' was Doreid Laham’s return to cinema in this first family entertainment in the Arab world in the past 25 years. ‘Kass Wa Lazk' won Best Film at the Cairo International Film Festival 2006.

Channel Manager MBC1 & MBC Group Head Of Production & Programming — MBC 2002-2005
Led the channel with its production facilities in London, Cairo, Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai. Created and launched many successful TV shows that ran for multiple years. 

In-house TVC film director & group director of advertising - Kuwait Food Company 1992- 2002
Wrote, directed and produced hundreds of the group’s TV commercials. Managed a multi-million dollar advertising budget. Oversaw the individual company’s advertising plans and activities. Managed group corporate communications. 

Education
University of Victoria, BC — Fine Arts
Ryerson University, Ontario, - Film Production.

Currently enrolled in the Berlin School of Creative Leadership EMBA program.

Personal
Married with 2 lovely adult children.