Fremantle lures interactive head from Channel 4

FremantleMedia has poached Channel 4 new media executive Robert Marsh to head its interactive and telephony business in the UK.

Marsh, previously new media head of commissioning and producer relations at the broadcaster, joins as FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) vice-president of interactive and telephony.

He will be responsible for managing FremantleMedia’s mobile content, on-screen telephony business and the commercialisation of the company’s programme websites in the UK.

Marsh will also focus on bringing in new revenue streams in digital and telephony, including online, podcasting, mobile and related digital content areas. Marsh, who joins in December, will be based in London and will report to Dominic Burns, who takes the new title of senior vice-president of licensing for the UK.

At Channel 4 New Media, Marsh implemented the mobile, broadband and premium rate telephony for Big Brother, Deal Or No Deal and The New Paul O’Grady Show.

FLW, Fremantle’s licensing arm, has also appointed Emma Armstrong to the new position of senior licensing executive. She will help manage brand licensing across FLW’s consumer products, promotions and retail relationships in the UK and report to vice-president of brand licensing and retail Pindy O’Brien. Armstrong joins FLW from Warner Bros Consumer Products.