Endemol hires Fremantle Asia exec

Endemol has poached FremantleMedia’s Asia content chief to become MD of its operations in the region.

Fotini Paraskakis

Fotini Paraskakis has overseen all Fremantle formats in Asia including Idols, Got Talent and X Factor since taking up her post there in 2005.

As MD of Asian operations at Endemol, she will be responsible for creative, production and format sales activities across the territory, including the company’s joint venture with Astro in Malaysia.

Paraskakis will report to Arjen van Mierlo, CEO of Endemol Asia, who will increasingly focus on opportunities for expanding the company’s operations in the region following the new hire.

Endemol’s recent projects in Asia include a first series of Fear Factor for Astro in Malaysia; shot in South Africa and coproduced by Endemol Malaysia and Endemol South Africa.

Also in Malaysia, hit gameshow The Money Drop has returned for a second season on Astro, while in China, a third season of Your Face Sounds Familiar remains a ratings winner for Hunan Satellite TV. A first season of the format is on air in Vietnam on VTV3.

In the Philippines, Deal or no Deal has returned on ABS-CBN with a new host and The Money Drop was recently launched on ABC’s TV5. Step Right Up is another Endemol show on air in Thailand on Channel 9.

Fotini began her TV career with BBC Drama in the UK and has been based in Asia since 1995, managing projects for networks across Asia and the UK, including Star TV, Disney, ESPN, Channel 4, BBC and MTV.

At Fremantle, she supervised over 1,000 primetime hours including the first ever live Asia-wide Asian Idol, bringing together six winners from different countries for an event targeting 250 million households.

“Having someone of Fotini’s calibre helping to lead our business in Asia places us in a strong position to pursue further growth here,” said van Mierlo. “She has an extraordinary wealth of experience and will be a valuable asset to our operations across the region.”

The appointment follows a series of recent senior management changes at Endemol, resulting from the closure of its global brands division and a switch in group chief operating officer.

Fremantle too is undergoing a reorg as 2013 gets in its stride, with a restructure of commercial operations unveiled last week.