Ackerman exit triggers rejig at Pulse

Pulse Films has hired a head of US unscripted from its Vice Media sister brand Viceland and handed Emma Cooper control of the UK division after the exit of Roy Ackerman.

Fred Grinstein has been drafted in to lead Pulse US unscripted efforts from its LA office, while Emma Cooper (pictured below right) has been promoted to managing director of unscripted television, UK in the rejig.

The restructure comes as MD, unscripted Ackerman (pictured) leaves the Pulse business. The former Fresh One Television chief was drafted in 15 months ago to establish Pulse’s unscripted division.

He exits after what Pulse described as a “successful” tenure during which he fulfilled “his remit to expand the company’s TV offering”. He is credited with hiring Cooper from Channel 4 and another new recruit, journalist Jacques Peretti, who has joined the UK team as presenter and reporter.

Grinstein will report to Pulse president Patrick Vien, who said: “Fred is an exceptional talent with a strong track history in broadcasting making him a fantastic, and welcome, addition to Pulse’s growing unscripted TV team.”

He joins from new cable network Viceland, which is currently expanding distribution internationally. At the channel, he was VP, development  spent five years at A+E Networks as a programming executive. He also worked at Tiger Aspect Productions and Lion Television.

Viceland parent Vice acquired Pulse earlier this year. Vice co-president described the deal as “a natural step in a relationship that has been enormously productive for both companies”.

Pulse CEO Thomas Benski claimed that with “Emma at the helm in the UK and Fred in the US, we are poised to take our unscripted division to a new level”.

“With a number of ground-breaking, original and challenging series already in the pipeline for UK and US broadcasters and following our deal with Vice, we couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come,” he said.

“We’d also like to thank Roy for his endeavours in putting Pulse TV on the map. He joined with a specific remit to expand the footprint of the division and he has put together a standout slate and a solid, talented team – strong foundations for our continued growth. We wish him the very best with what will undoubtedly be interesting new ventures.”