Hindle to head new FremantleMedia digital arm

FremantleMedia has appointed its stateside-based exec Keith Hindle to lead its newly created Digital and Branded Entertainment arm.

FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz has called on Hindle, who was previously CEO of the Americas for the company’s licensing and distribution arm FremantleMedia Enterprises, to become CEO of digital and branded entertainment.

Hindle will report into Frot-Coutaz, another alum of FremantleMedia’s US business who replaced Tony Cohen in the top seat last year, and take a place on the RTL-owned company’s operating board. Besides building and implementing FME’s strategy in North and South America, Hindle has held posts at Time Warner, Unilever and Shell.

This comes after February’s news FME and digital division FMX were being phased out and replaced by two global entities – one the digital unit Hindle will run and the other a global distribution and kids division helmed by FME CEO David Ellender.

FMX’s CEO Claire Tavernier was one casualty of the restructure, and she has since launched a digital content consultancy, StoryTechLife. However, FremantleMedia has said it will work to keep job losses to a minimum.

The new role will see Hindle oversee all multi-platform business globally, including digital, sponsorship, social media, YouTube (including its original US and European channels) and online gaming. He’ll also sit on the operating boards of FremantleMedia’s gaming firm Ludia and transmedia imprint @radical.media.

“The creation of our new digital and branded entertainment function and Keith’s appointment as its CEO underlines our clear focus on furthering FremantleMedia’s position in this space. Keith has unparalleled knowledge of our company and brands, with formidable expertise in crafting and driving commercially successful digital, sponsorship and interactive strategies in the world’s largest TV markets,” said Frot-Coutaz.

“We have a history of innovation around extending the audiences’ experiences and interactions with our shows, creating new kinds of entertainment for digital platforms, and working with advertisers and sponsors on best in class opportunities to connect with our viewers. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to build on these capabilities globally with our talented teams around the world,” added Hindle.