ITV hires Fremantle exec to drive brand development

ITV has poached Fremantle’s Paul Kanareck to lead the broadcaster’s efforts to boost commercial revenue from the programme “brands” it owns.

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Kanareck’s appointment is the latest hire made by the broadcaster as it looks to execute its “transformation strategy”.

The company’s fortunes have improved of late, revenues increased 10% last year, but the ratings and ad revenue hits that have driven the improved performance – shows such as X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent are owned by Fremantle.

The broadcaster hired Jean-Philippe Randisi to increase and extend the reach of ITV-owned programmes last year, while James Micklethwait and Richard Williams were drafted in from the BBC earlier this year to lead multi-channel platform development.

Kanareck, who will take the title director of brands, will be responsible for ITV’s “Total Value” initiative, which is aimed at “maximising commercial returns from programme brands across multiple platforms”.

To this end, he will work with the broadcaster’s commissioning and production departments, format sales, merchandising and licensing teams.

Fru Hazlitt, managing director of commercial and online, says: “Paul’s appointment is an important step towards our goal to become an ITV that can create world-class content, executed across multiple platforms and sold around the world. Paul is a hugely talented individual and an experienced commercial operator and I look forward to welcoming him on board to lead and strengthen this new way of working across the company.”

Kanareck was head of FremantleMedia Ventures, where he was credited with leading the company into the international games industry including the launch of FM Gaming.

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