FREMANTLE BOUGHT NAKED TELEVISION AND NAMED SIMON ANDREAE AS UK CEO

Fremantle announces today that it has bought 100% of the production company Naked Television and appointed Naked’s Simon Andreae as CEO for its UK business. Reporting to Group CEO Jennifer Mullin, Andreae will now oversee output from all Fremantle’s UK labels – Thames, Talkback, Boundless, Euston Films, Hare & Tortoise, Castlefield, and Naked. He will also take a seat on Fremantle’s Global Operating Board.

Liam Humphreys has stepped down from his role as CEO of Fremantle UK. “Liam joined us to focus on creative renewal across our UK unscripted labels and our recent award wins are testament to his success. I would like to thank Liam for his leadership and great contribution over the last three years and wish him well for the future,” said Mullin.

Simon Andreae said: “I’m extremely proud of the brand we’ve built at Naked and am looking forward to supporting both them and Fremantle’s other world class production labels as we shape a truly creative, collaborative and future-facing studio group.”

Mullin added: “I am thrilled that Simon will helm our UK business. Simon knows how to make great content and has a terrific track-record in taking bold risks to create ambitious shows. He’s an inspiring, inclusive leader and brings an enormous amount of energy and creativity. I can’t wait to see what he creates in this new role.”

Liam Humphreys said: “I’ve had a wonderful time at Fremantle, it’s been a privilege to lead Boundless, Talkback and Thames working with some of the best production teams in the business. I feel now is the right time for me to return to a closer relationship with content which is where I have my most ambitious plans. I wish Fremantle every success with their next chapter.”

Fremantle acquired a minority stake in unscripted start up Naked in 2015 and will now have 100% ownership, with Naked’s COO Susie Dark and Creative Director Tom O’Brien assuming the day-to-day running of the business.

As founder of Naked, Simon has worked closely with Tom and Susie to create a range of popular and compelling content for the UK’s major broadcasters including "Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks Summer and Manson: The Lost Tapes" for ITV, "Indian Summer School" and the upcoming "Ghost" for Channel 4, "100% Hotter" and "Secret Admirer" for Channel 5 and "5 Star", "My Hotter Half" for E4, and "21 Again" and the recently renewed award-winning "The Rap Game UK" for BBC3.

Reporting to Simon are the heads of all FMUK’s unscripted and scripted labels – Amelia Brown (Thames), Jonno Richards (Talkback), Neil Smith (Boundless), Susie Dark and Tom O’Brien (Naked), Kate Harwood (Euston Films), Hilary Martin (Castlefield), and Jon Rolph (Hare and Tortoise).