FremantleMedia raids C4 for UK CEO

FremantleMedia has tapped a Channel 4 executive to oversee its restructured UK operation, which has brought its entertainment and factual units under one arm.

Liam Humphreys

Liam Humphreys, currently the UK broadcaster’s head of popular factual television, will lead the new operation, which sees the production labels Thames, Boundless and Talkback brought together under the Unscripted banner.

The three businesses will continue to exist, but the new structure will combine their expertise in unscripted and work together “more holistically,” FremantleMedia UK (FMUK) said.

As FMUK CEO, Humphreys will report to FremantleMedia group CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz.

Richard Holloway, who has been interim CEO of FMUK for the past two-and-a-half years while also managing Thames, will continue in the post until Humphreys joins the business later this year.

FMUK’s drama and comedy businesses will continue to operate separately, with Euston Films MD Kate Harwood and Retort boss Jon Rolph reporting to Frot-Coutaz.

FMUK, producer of shows such as The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, will be represented at operating board level by its chairman, David Liddiment.

“As the entertainment and factual genres increasingly bleed into one another, it makes sense to run these labels as a single entity with a greater focus in order to explore new areas and further expand our unscripted business,” said Frot-Coutaz.