Christian Vesper Becomes CEO for Global Drama at Fremantle

Christian Vesper has been promoted to CEO for global drama at Fremantle, a newly created role.

Vesper will continue to build on Fremantle’s portfolio of scripted drama, films and dailies throughout the world and, in addition, will have direct oversight of some of Fremantle’s scripted labels, including Miso Film, Wildside, The Apartment, Element Pictures, Lux Vide, Dancing Ledge Productions and Passenger.

He will also oversee Fremantle’s roster of talent partnerships and deals, which includes Chernobyl director Johan Renck and Michael Paret’s newly launched production company Sinestra, Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films, Afua Hirsch’s Born In Me and The Creatives, Fremantle’s three-year partnership agreement with a creative alliance of nine independent production companies.

Vesper and his team will continue to support Fremantle’s broader drama initiatives, working in partnership with its regional drama heads across all territories in which Fremantle operates, including UFA in Germany, Fremantle Australia, Abot Hameiri in Israel and Fremantle Mexico.

Vesper will also play a strategic role in Fremantle’s growing film strategy.

Based in London, he reports to Andrea Scrosati, group COO and CEO for Continental Europe.

Scrosati commented: “Following the acquisitions of Element Pictures and Lux Vide, our scripted eco-system has become even stronger. This new role is part of the new organizational structure we are putting in place to best support our family of great producers. Under Christian’s leadership, Fremantle has delivered beautifully made, provocative and taste-making series. He has also made connections and partnerships with some of the best creatives in the world. He has impeccable taste and a unique creative instinct, which makes him an exceptionally-valued point of reference for our producers and talents across the world.”

Vesper added: “The opportunity to oversee the Drama Group, and to help support and guide our producers to continue to make the best TV and films in the global marketplace, is a privilege. Over the last seven years, I have been lucky enough to be a part of Fremantle’s growth in the scripted business and am proud to be part of us having increased the number of Dramas we have delivered from around 30 projects in 2016 to over 100 projects in 2022. I can’t wait to continue the journey of growth and quality.”