Fremantle ups Christian Vesper to new drama role, extending prodco oversight

My Brilliant Friend: The Story Of A New Name

Fremantle has upped scripted chief Christian Vesper to a newly created role overseeing its global drama output and some of the production companies that produce it.

Vesper, who had been president of global drama for Fremantle, is now CEO and reports into Andrea Scrosati, group COO and CEO of continental Europe.

Christian Vesper

He will continue to lead scripted drama, films and dailies around the world but will also now have direct oversight of owned scripted labels, including: Miso Film (The Investigation);’Wildside (My Brilliant Friend); The Apartment (We Are Who We Are); Element Pictures (Normal People); Lux Vide (Medici); Dancing Ledge Productions (The Salisbury Poisonings); and the group’s most recent acquisition, Passenger (This England).

He will also oversee Fremantle’s roster of talent partnerships and deals, which includes Chernobyl director Johan Renck and Michael Paret’s newly launched production company Sinestra.

Vesper retains his London base and will work Fremantle’s regional drama heads, including UFA in Germany, Fremantle Australia, Abot Hameiri in Israel and Fremantle Mexico.

Scrosati said Vesper’s new role reflected “the new organisational structure we are putting in place to best support our family of great producers”.

Vesper added: “The opportunity to oversee the drama group, and to help support and guide our producers to continue to make the best TV and films in the global marketplace, is a privilege.

“Over the last seven years, I have been lucky enough to be a part of Fremantle’s growth in the scripted business and am proud to be part of us having increased the number of dramas we have delivered from around 30 projects in 2016, to over 100 projects in 2022. I can’t wait to continue the journey of growth and quality.”

Vesper joined Fremantle from Sundance TV in 2016 as EVP & creative director of global drama, initially reporting into then global drama chief Sarah Doole. He was upped to become president of global drama in 2020.