Layla Smith has headed All3Media subsidiary for over a decade

The chief executive of Objective Media Group (OMG) Layla Smith has stepped down after over a decade in the role.

Smith joined the All3Media production group in 2015, when it was called Objective Productions and its biggest shows included Channel 4’s Peep Show. She joined from then All3 stablemate John Stanley Productions, where she was managing director for two years.

There are no plans to directly replace Smith, with commercial director Holly Pye and director of production and operations Roz Pound to run the business going forward.

An OMG spokesperson said: “Layla Smith has decided to step down as chief executive of Objective for family-related reasons after almost 11 years with the company. Layla will stay on as a creative consultant to the business until the end of the year.”

All3Media chief executive Jane Turton said: “Over the last 11 years, Layla has led Objective with enormous creativity and success. Under her leadership the business in the UK and US has delivered outstanding unscripted hits such as Lingo, Picture Slam and the return of The Cube, alongside acclaimed drama including The Gold and Wayward.

“Layla is both a valued colleague and a friend, and I’m pleased that she will remain part of Objective as a consultant going forward.”

The exit comes ahead of the merger of Banijay Entertainment and All3Media, a deal which expected to close in the autumn.

Almost immediately after her appointment in 2015, Smith led a restructure of the single-entity business to create individual sub-labels focused on scripted comedy, entertainment and factual entertainment. Within the first five years of her tenure, OMG became its own indie group with 10 production units across the UK and US.

Hits under her leadership include Netflix comedy drama Feel Good, BBC1 game show Alan Carr’s Picture Slam and inherited Lime E4 reality dating series Celebs Go Dating. Label launches in the group included Motorway Cops producer Purple Productions in 2019, Legends and The Gold label Tannadice in 2020 and Secrets of the Royal Palaces producer Coming Up Roses in 2023.

More recently, she oversaw the consolidation of labels including Triple Brew and Betty, and the subsequent launch of Objective Entertainment under Neale Simpson.

During her tenure she has also exec produced several titles including OMG America’s Worst Cooks in America for the Food Network.

Previously she spent 15 years at ITV, including seven years as controller of entertainment, looking after I’m A Celebrity…, Dancing On Ice and Soccer Aid.