FremantleMedia International Bolsters Global Team

LONDON: A slew of new appointments have been made to FremantleMedia International's (FMI) global team, with an aim to strengthen sales in the emerging markets and ramp up scripted and non-scripted acquisitions in the U.S. and globally.

Jennifer Barrett joins the the company as senior VP of legal and business affairs. She will report jointly to FMI COO Bob McCourt and FremantleMedia’s general counsel, Robin Chalmers, and will lead and manage FMI’s legal and business affairs team, overseeing the acquisition of rights for FremantleMedia’s in-house teams and those of third-party producers, as well as overseeing matters of corporate governance, risk management and compliance with law, policy and regulation. Barrett joins FMI from the BBC, where she most recently held the post of head of legal and business affairs, factual and daytime.

With an eye to strengthen business in the emerging markets, Natalia Sterlikova has been appointed as director of sales for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS. Based in Berlin and reporting to Maximilian Bolenius, the senior VP of sales and distribution for German-speaking Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS, Sterlikova will be responsible for continuing to grow FMI’s business in the region, maximizing sales and presales of all FMI content with traditional broadcasters and emerging platforms and giving additional focus and attention to this territory. She joins FMI from all3media international, where she was a senior sales executive, responsible for expanding the business in Central and Eastern Europe.

As part of a plan to bolster acquisitions for FMI, the responsibility for scripted and non-scripted activity in the U.S. has been separated, with the promotion of Sam Harowitz and Hayley Dickson, who become VP of scripted acquisitions and senior VP and head of non-scripted global acquisitions and development, respectively. As VP of scripted, Harowitz will work closely with FNMA’s scripted department and the U.K.-based global drama team, as well as third-party producers in North America, to identify and secure content for distribution or development by the FMI sales teams. Dickson will do the same for non-scripted content and will have an expanded remit, which sees her take a more strategic role overseeing the acquisition and development of non-scripted content globally. She will work closely with London-based director of non-scripted, Angela Neillis, who retains her U.K. focus in order to assess and exploit opportunities within this highly competitive market.

Jens Richter, the CEO of FMI, said, “Today’s announcement will play a key role in furthering FMI’s new strategy. Broadening our capability in co-financing and co-producing sits at the heart of our plans, and Jennifer brings a fantastic combination of senior level expertise and fresh perspective and insight in this area. Natalia and Amaç have both demonstrated strong track records in identifying and capitalizing on sales opportunities in the increasingly important emerging markets, while a more strategically-focused remit for Hayley and Sam, combined with their passion and drive for acquisitions, will deliver a diverse and enhanced content catalogue.”

In separate news, FremantleMedia has expanded the remit of VP of commercial and business affairs, Bart Jan Gorissen. Retaining his existing title, Gorissen will also become commercial director for Central and Eastern Europe and report directly to Daniela Matei, the CEO of Nordics, Central Eastern European and Baltics (NOREEBA). Gorissen’s new role will see him work with the heads of format sales in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as the MDs of FremantleMedia Croatia and Poland in order to grow revenues from the ancillary exploitation of FremantleMedia’s brands in these markets. He will advise the team on external partnerships ranging from broadcasters and production companies, brand agencies, sponsors and digital partners.

Commenting on the appointment, Matei said: “Bart Jan has worked closely with my team for many years now and more than once, his commercial advice has helped us take advantage of opportunities available in the constantly developing CEE market. His input has proven the need for our first ever commercial director, so I’m delighted that we can now make this appointment official. His legal background will be invaluable as a partner and advisor, in both commercial and legal decisions and strategies.”