Fremantle Taps Sky Italia Exec as Group COO

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Fremantle has appointed Andrea Scrosati, currently executive VP of programming at Sky Italia, as group chief operating officer.

Scrosati succeeds Sangeeta Desai, who decided earlier this year to step down from her role as COO and CEO of emerging markets after more than five years. Reporting to Jennifer Mullin, Fremantle’s group CEO, Scrosati will have board-level responsibility for central group functions. This includes strategy, M&A, legal and business affairs, as well as the company’s operations across Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, France and Portugal), Brazil, Mexico and Israel and its U.K. scripted label Euston Films.

Mullin said: “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Andrea to Fremantle. His deep understanding of audiences, his global mindset, his track record of taking bold risks, and his world-class creative and commercial acumen are all going to be invaluable as we embark on an increasingly ambitious path to growth.

“I would also like to thank Sangeeta for all of her work over the last five years. She has been a crucial architect of Fremantle’s push into high-end drama, our big strategic investments and our sustained global growth, and she will be very greatly missed.”

Scrosati said: “There has never been a more exciting time for the global creative and content industry, and there is no doubt that Fremantle is driving this momentum: supporting and investing in the best talent from across the world, innovating and taking the right risks, and always marrying a local focus with a global vision.

“After over a decade at Sky Italia, I can look back at many groundbreaking achievements, an amazing team, a fantastic company and only great memories—and now I look forward to starting this exciting new adventure working with Jennifer and the very best talent in the industry.”