Rob Wade restructures Fox Entertainment, with new roles for Fernando Szew & Michael Thorn

Rob Wade (Source: Fox)

Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade has restructured the company into three divisions: Fox Entertainment Studios, the Fox Television Network and distribution arm Fox Entertainment Global.

As a result of the reorganisation, Fernando Szew and Michael Thorn are taking on new senior leadership roles at the company, with the former becoming head of Fox Entertainment Studios and the latter named president of the Fox Television Network. Both will report directly to Wade. Allison Wallach will also expand her remit to include oversight of global unscripted programming for Fox Entertainment Studios, under Szew.

“Under this new structure, every division of Fox Entertainment is now poised for growth and creative excellence as we super-serve our audiences everywhere,” said Wade.

Michael Thorn (Source: Fox)

New structure & roles

Fox Entertainment is consolidating all of its studio businesses worldwide under Szew, who most recently served as CEO of Fox Entertainment Global.

The new Fox Entertainment Studios banner will include Bento Box, the animated firm behind Krapopolis, Grimsburg and Bob’s Burgers; The Masked Singer producer Fox Alternative Entertainment; Fox scripted studios, creator of live-action comedy Animal Control; movie producer MarVista Entertainment, which was founded and led by Szew; Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global; and Harvey Levin’s entertainment studio TMZ.

Wallach, previously president of unscripted programming at Fox Entertainment, will lead all unscripted creative and production for the division, including working on formats such as Beat Me Mini-Mes, Marriage Market and Celebrity Masterpiece.

Thorn, meanwhile, most recently served as president of scripted programming for Fox Entertainment. In his new role leading the Fox Television Network, he will work closely with Szew, and will manage the network’s scripted, unscripted and casting teams.

These are led by Brooke Bowman, EVP of drama programming and development; Cheryl Dolins, SVP of comedy and animation programming and development; Yasmin Rawji, EVP of unscripted; and Brittainy Roberts, SVP of casting.

Thorn will also continue his long-standing involvement in Fox’s animated properties, remaining a member of the Bento Box Entertainment steering committee.

Due to Szew’s new role, Fox Entertainment Global will led on an interim basis by EVP Tony Vassiliadis, reporting directly to Wade, until a new replacement for Szew is named, at which point Vassiliadis will transition into a new senior role at Fox Entertainment.