Ex-FremantleMedia UK boss joins All3

Former FremantleMedia UK CEO Sara Geater is joining another UK-based production giant, All3Media, as COO.

Since leaving FremantleMedia’s British arm in 2014 after seven years, she has taken on the chairmanship of indie body PACT, and will joins Gogglebox firm All3 with immediate effect.

This comes after All3’s former COO, Jane Turton, secured the CEO post vacated by Farah Ramzan Golant’s departure, after a successful interim period.

Besides running X Factor co-creator FremantleMedia UK, veteran producer Geater has worked as head of commercial affairs at Channel 4, director of rights and business affairs at the BBC, head of TV and film at Avalon and head of production at Miramax Films.

She also coproduced drama for Channel 4 and began her career at ITV predecessor LWT.

Turton said her “experience in television production, talent management, rights and deal making” would be “a huge asset to the [All3] group as we grow the business both in the UK and overseas”.

“The opportunity to work with Jane Turton and all the companies within the All3Media group, along with the company’s plans for growth is one not to be missed,” added Geater.

Talk of growth at All3 comes after the company recently made its first acquisition in nearly five years, buying Sam Mendes’s prodco, Neal Street Productions (Penny Dreadful), for an undisclosed fee.

It also follows All3 becoming a subsidiary of a holding vehicle, DLG Acquisitions, run by Discovery Communcations and Liberty Global, which bought the company from investment firm Permira and All3’s previous management team.

Even before the deal closed analysts were predicting Discovery and Liberty would begin acquiring more content companies and investing heavily in All3, and Geater’s hire looks likely to play into this strategy.

London-based All3 currently owns 21 production and distribution companies, including global sales arm All3Media International, which also welcomed a new CEO this year when Steve Macallister replaced Louise Pedersen.

Geater’s previous post at FremantleMedia UK is currently being filled by the managing director of subsidiary Thames, Richard Holloway.

She will also exit her post at PACT. Under terms of the body’s constitution, Geater is unable to remain council chair as All3 is a ‘non-qualifying independent producer’.

Replacing her at PACT is vice chairman Laura Mansfield, the co-founder of indie Outline Productions (The House of Tiny Tearaways). An election to confirm her appointment will follow in due course.

“It’s been a pleasure and inspiration working with Sara, and I wish her all the very best in her new role at All3Media,” said Mansfield. “It’s an exciting time in our industry, and with key issues like BBC Charter Renewal ahead, it’s an important couple of years for PACT.

“As someone who’s been running an indie for the last sixteen years, I’m utterly passionate about celebrating the creativity and dynamism in our sector and very much looking forward to working with John and all the team at PACT in my new capacity.”