Fremantle Restructures NA Operations

Under the leadership of Jennifer Mullin, who assumed the role of global chief executive global while continuing as chief executive officer of North America last summer, the company will undergo a significant structural shift in an effort to support Fremantle’s long-term goals for 2019 and beyond.

“At a time of exciting growth and ambition for Fremantle’s U.S. business, I’m delighted to have further strengthened our top team, combining first-class talent from outside Fremantle with outstanding colleagues from within,” says Mullin.

Suzanne Lopez has been upped to chief operating officer for North America, effectively immediately. In her new role, Lopez will oversee all business and legal affairs as well as human resources, technology, production and security. Lopez has worked with Fremantle for 15 years and has served as the organization's executive vice president of business and legal affairs for the last nine years.

Tim Grau will move into the position of executive vice president of business and legal affairs for unscripted projects. In his new role, Grau will direct the negotiations of all deals involving the development, acquisition, production and distribution of the Fremantle unscripted division, as well as all production legal affairs. Grau has been with Fremantle for 12 years and has worked in a variety of roles in the business affairs department, most recently serving as senior vice president of commercial partnerships and business affairs.

Dan Funk has been promoted to executive vice president of unscripted production. In his new role, Funk will spearhead all of Fremantle's unscripted productions in North America. Funk has worked at Fremantle for 15 years, most recently as an executive producer on all 10 seasons of “Let’s Make A Deal." He also has been a member of the Directors Guild of America for 35 years, creating a variety of content across all genres.

Finally, Meredith Berens joins Fremantle as senior vice president of human resources. In her new role, Berens will watch over the management and development of human resources programs such as talent acquisition, compliance, benefits, employee relations and training and development. Her previous roles include head of international human resources for DreamWorks Animation and other positions at G4 and E! networks.