FremantleMedia has announced plans to replace its Enterprises arm with a new, stand-alone, global division focused on distribution and kids & family entertainment.

April 6, 2018

2 Min Read

FremantleMedia has announced plans to replace its Enterprises arm with a new, stand-alone, global division focused on distribution and kids & family entertainment.

All remaining digital, licensing, sponsorship and other ancillary activities previously undertaken by FremantleMedia Enterprises will now fall to FremantleMedia’s regional production divisions. Additionally, a new global Digital & Branded Entertainment division will be created.

“This is a very powerful shift in our company’s structure that we believe will significantly strengthen our core business activities, while also better positioning us to capitalize on growth opportunities for the future,” says Cecile Frot-Coutaz, chief executive officer, FremantleMedia. “We have a built a formidable expertise in extending our market-leading brands both on and beyond the television screen, through licensing, sponsorship, digital activities and other valuable commercial ancillaries. By transferring these skills into our local production businesses, we create a far more direct and seamless integration between our production efforts and the commercial activity surrounding our hit shows.”

As a part of the planned new structure, David Ellender, previously global chief executive officer of FME, has been named chief executive officer, FremantleMedia International and Kids, and will oversee FremantleMedia’s new global distribution and Kids & Family Entertainment division. Sander Schwartz will continue lead FremantleMedia’s Kids & Family Entertainment division, reporting to Ellender. A Head of Digital & Branded Entertainment will be appointed at a later date.

“Not only will [these moves] bolster and enhance our creative development process, but it will also give us the ability to manage and grow our brands in a far more holistic way, creating added value and the opportunity for even greater engagement with viewers around the world,” says Frot-Coutaz. “We will continue to focus on our world class distribution capabilities and on our growing Kids & Family Entertainment business under the leadership of David Ellender, as well as on our significant digital and branded entertainment activities worldwide. We’re very proud of the capabilities we have built through our creative and commercial operations so far, and are confident that these proposed structural changes will drive a very exciting next stage of growth and development.”

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