Format luminaries Phil Gurin and Lisette van Diepen to step down from FRAPA board
Lisette van Diepen and Phil Gurin
Phil Gurin and Lisette van Diepen will step down from the board of the Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA) later this year.
Gurin, who is president and CEO of prodco The Gurin Company and founder of specialist format distribution company TGC Global Entertainment, has served on the FRAPA board for 16 years, most recently as chair for the past 10.
With a career encompassing 3,000-plus hours of television aired in more than 185 countries, Gurin has played a central role in the success of many formats, notably Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, Fridge Wars, Weakest Link, Lingo, Miss Universe and The Singing Bee.
Gurin has received four Primetime Emmy Awards for ABC’s Shark Tank and a Rose d’Or for physical comedy gameshow Oh Sit!.
In 2015, he was appointed co-chair of FRAPA with Jan Salling, head of BBC Studios Nordics. Under their leadership, FRAPA has grown in size, scope and ambition, expanding its mission, services and purpose to ensure it offers its members the legal, commercial and creative support they need to navigate an increasingly complex formats marketplace.
After stepping down from FRAPA, Gurin will focus more fully on The Gurin Company and TGC Global, both of which are expanding their operations. The Gurin Company is increasing its focus on live events and the provision of third-party format production services across North America, while TGC continues to build both its catalogue and its network of global partners.
Gurin also serves as a governor of the Producers Peer Group for the 26,000 member-strong Television Academy, which focuses on fostering creativity, inclusion and leadership within the US TV industry.
Van Diepen is also stepping down after 10 years at FRAPA, where she joined the general board in 2015 before becoming the association’s treasurer in 2019. Van Diepen is currently consulting for BBC Studios Nordic in Scandinavia and acquiring content for Benelux production group Vincent TV and German prodco Brot und Butter.
Over her 30-year career, van Diepen has been involved in acquiring numerous format superbrands, including Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Dragons’ Den, Survivor and Drag Race, and worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Dutch format veterans Joop van de Ende and John de Mol.
She also launched Sony Pictures Televisions’ acquisition division and, in 2016, formed consultancy Marphes Media, working for entertainment heavyweights such as All3Media, Talpa and Fox Entertainment.
The management board of FRAPA said: “It is with sadness and huge gratitude that we thank Phil and Lisette for their incredible contributions to FRAPA for the past decade and beyond. As FRAPA celebrates its 25th anniversary, it seems fitting to forge ahead into the future and explore how its mission continues in the ever-evolving media landscape.
“We look forward to working with our advisory board on this and sharing with the wider community our next steps very soon, and seeing our friends and familiar faces at Mipcom where we will absolutely celebrate Phil and Lisette’s undeniable contribution to FRAPA and the industry as a whole.”
Gurin said: “As I prepare to exit stage left from FRAPA, I can say, hand on heart, that it’s been a privilege to work with so many passionate professionals to help grow this unique volunteer organisation. But as FRAPA moves ahead, it’s time to hand over the reins to a new generation to tackle the many issues confronting our industry.
“As for my own future, I have ambitious plans for The Gurin Company and TGC Global Entertainment. Plus, I’m super excited about helping the TV Academy understand and engage with the world of international formats. Suffice to say…”
