FremantleMedia poaches MGM exec to head up Australian operation

FremantleMedia has recruited Ian Hogg to run its Australian operation. Hogg will replace the Fennessy brothers, who were poached by Shine earlier this year to run its freshly minted Australian division. He joins from MGM, having only joined the US studio earlier this year.

Hogg will be CEO of FremantleMedia Australia, based in Sydney and reporting to Simon Spalding, FremantleMedia’s Europe and Asia Pacific CEO. Spalding said: “Australia is a key production and development territory for FremantleMedia, and we are confident that Ian will be able to work with our local partners and our wider international network, building on our formidable creative and commercial strengths.”

Prior to MGM, Hogg worked at Network Ten in Australia and TV3 in New Zealand, before founding Singapore-based production company Theatre Red.

Mark and Carl Fennessy announced they were leaving re FremantleMedia Australia in March, to head a new Australian division of Shine Group.

Hogg’s appointment follows a slew of recent people announcements by RTL-backed FremantleMedia. These have included hiring Saurinra Kumar Barua as managing director of FremantleMedia India and Keith Hindle as CEO, Americas, for FremantleMedia Enterprises.