Exclusive: Duffy exits Electus, joins T Group

October 1, 2012 by Adam Benzine

Mike Duffy / T Group

Mike Duffy (pictured) has stepped down as MD of branded content for Ben Silverman’s indie Electus, to join T Group Productions, the prodco behind Storage Hunters.

Duffy takes on the role of exec VP of development and programming at T Group effective immediately. He reports to the indie’s president Jennifer Daly, who set up T Group in 2010, before which she worked as a partner at Go Go Luckey Productions.

In addition to the new role, Duffy will serve as the acting head of the indie over the next few months, with Daly set to go on maternity leave very shortly.

Talking to realscreen, Daly said she and Duffy had known each other and been friends for a long time. “I wanted someone who could basically work as my right-hand man,” she said. “Mike has a mind that goes beyond the linear, and I’m delighted he’s going to be running and overseeing the company over the next couple of months.”

Duffy added that he was looking forward to returning to a role that was “entirely creative” and “telling stories that have broad appeal.”

“I don’t know anyone in TV like Jennifer – she’s got it all, from being a showrunner to former network exec, to being able to run her own successful company,” he told realscreen. “She has an amazing business mind. And she has multiple returning hit shows – that’s nothing to shake a stick at.”

Duffy added that hopes to use some of the branded contacts he made in his former job to bring in new business for T Group. “Our goal is to expand and continue growing the company,” he said. “We’ll be looking to cable networks where we don’t have shows, and to broadcast networks.”

The job change comes 15 months after Duffy left producer-distributor Zodiak USA to join IAC-backed Electus, as revealed by realscreen in June 2011.

In addition to making Storage Hunters for TruTV, T Group’s other productions include Invention USA for History, Private Chefs of Beverly Hills for Food Network, and Secret Celebrity for E! Entertainment.

At Electus, exec VP of advertising Laura Caraccioli-Davis has taken over Duffy’s responsibilities following his departure, alongside Bruce Seidel, CEO of Electus’s food-centric YouTube channel Hungry.

Tags: Ben Silverman, Bruce Seidel, Electus, Jennifer Daly, Laura Caraccioli-Davis, Mike Duffy, Storage Hunters, T Group Productions