Matthew Weiner, Cecile Frot-Coutaz & Fernando Gaitán to Receive NATPE Honors

LOS ANGELES: NATPE’s ninth annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award will be presented to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Fernando Gaitán, Dennis Swanson and Matthew Weiner at the 2012 market and conference.

Weiner is the series creator and executive producer of the hit AMC original Mad Men, which has earned four consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series. Prior to Mad Men, Weiner was an executive producer and writer on The Sopranos. Frot-Coutaz is the CEO of FremantleMedia North America and executive producer of American Idol. She oversees the development, production and business operations of more than 400 hours of programming. Gaitán is the VP of production and content for Colombia’s RCN TV. He is perhaps best known as the creator of Ugly Betty (Yo Soy Betty la fea), which has more than 21 international adaptations. Swanson is the president of station operations for FOX Television Stations. Among his credits are serving as the VP and general manager of Chicago’s WLS-TV, during which time he gave Oprah Winfrey her first daytime talk show. These recipients will be presented with their awards at a reception in Miami on January 24.

“Our honorees for 2012 have lived, worked and traveled all over the globe,” said NATPE’s president and CEO, Rick Feldman. “Their common interest and the reason we have chosen them, is their passion for great TV programming. Cecile, Fernando, Dennis and Matthew love what they do and we are pleased to honor them in Brandon’s name.”