WTFN promotes Derek Dyson to CCO, merges Fred Media with Radar

Australian distributor and producer WTFN has undergone an organisational restructure integrating the teams of distribution arm Fred Media with its digital offshoot Radar.

Derek Dyson

Under the new structure Derek Dyson has been promoted to chief commercial officer at WTFN, having previously served as general manager at Radar.

Dyson will be responsible for the newly integrated team and its global business strategy. The revamped entity will be branded Fred Media/Radar and make its debut at Mipcom in Cannes next month.

He will also be tasked with developing opportunities for Fred Media/Radar in tandem with the wider group’s talent and branded entertainment businesses, Empire Talent and WTFN BE.

The new general manager at Radar is digital executive Louisa Emery. Prior to joining Radar, Emery ran the digital and social media teams at both Warner Bros and Fremantle in Australia, served on the Big Brother relaunch campaign for Channel 7 and Endemol Shine. She also worked for Totem Global in Australia and extensively in the UK, at Channel 5, ITV and Endemol Shine UK.

Dyson explained that as the Radar business has expanded, there has been a closer synergy between the Fred Media and Radar teams to optimise the value of their client’s content rights.

He said: “It has been a tough year for everyone, but our Total Distribution strategy – focusing on ensuring all content rights are maximised across every possible platform – has been paying dividends, with digital and online projects especially proving key growth drivers.”

In other appointments, sales, development, acquisitions and coproduction executive Judy Levenson has joined Fred Media/Radar as a sales consultant, with responsibility for the Americas. She has previously held senior roles at Showtime, National Geographic, Discovery and Scott Brothers Entertainment.