Fremantle’s Porter named Playmaker MD

Fremantle executive Jo Porter has been named MD of Australian production company Playmaker Media and will take up the post next year.

Jo Porter

Porter joins the Sony Pictures TV-owned prodco from Fremantle Australia, where she has been director of scripted programming since 2012.

The move comes after Playmaker’s joint MDs David Maher and David Taylor stepped down in July.

Porter’s credits include Logie- and AACTA-winning female prison drama Wentworth for Foxtel, which was sold into more than 171 territories and has been re-made in four languages.

She was executive producer on the Foxtel and Amazon Prime limited series Picnic at Hanging Rock, which was sold into over 160 territories, including to premium broadcasters Canal+ in France and the BBC in the UK.

Her credits also include Seven Network’s hit Packed to the Rafters, International Emmy nominee Always Greener and multiple Logie- and AFI-winning show All Saints.

Wayne Garvie, president of international production at Sony Pictures Television, described Porter as “not only one of Australia’s most admired producers, with a terrific track record, but a great person with great relationships.”

Porter added: “With the backing of Wayne and the Sony Pictures Television team we have fantastic scope to attract brilliant talent to create and build a new wave of distinctive productions out of Australia to share with the world.”