Fremantle Media appoints Chris Oliver-Taylor as CEO
Production company Fremantle Media has announced Chris Oliver-Taylor, currently managing director of NBC Universal-owned Matchbox Pictures, will replace Ian Hogg as CEO of Fremantle Media Australia later this year.
Oliver-Taylor
Hogg announced his departure in January, and is yet to reveal his next move.
Oliver-Taylor will report into Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Fremantle Media Group CEO, and will assume full responsibility for Fremantle Media’s overall management and business performance across Australia and New Zealand. He will also lead the development and production of the company’s scripted and unscripted programming.
During his tenure at Matchbox Pictures, which he has led since 2011, the company commissioned The Real Housewives franchise for Foxtel; 7 Types of Ambiguity and Barracuda for the ABC; and Safe Harbour and Date My Race for SBS. Matchbox won 20 AACTA Awards, an International Emmy, 9 Logies and 9 Screen Producers of Australia Awards with Oliver-Taylor at the helm.
Prior to joining Matchbox, Oliver-Taylor was the ABC’s head of production, with overall responsibility for the production and delivery of the entire ABC TV slate as well as the financial management, business affairs, scheduling and broadcast operations of ABC TV. He began his career at the BBC in London, working on the Top of the Pops, The Generation Game, Match of the Day and Westminster Live.
Frot-Coutaz said Oliver-Taylor had an outstanding reputation in the industry.
“Chris is one of Australia’s most admired and dynamic television executives, with an outstanding reputation for delivering impactful scripted and unscripted entertainment that plays brilliantly in Australia and around the world. I am delighted to have attracted someone of his calibre and passion to lead our Australian operation and I can’t wait to welcome him to the global Fremantle family.”
Oliver-Taylor said Fremantle was an “absolute powerhouse” and he couldn’t resist the temptation of joining.
“Leading Matchbox Pictures has been the most creatively rewarding chapter of my career so far, but the opportunity to lead Fremantle Media Australia and join the outstanding global team is one I couldn’t resist. From the world’s biggest entertainment formats to some of the most ambitious dramas on television, Fremantle is an absolute powerhouse – and I couldn’t be more excited about the many creative partnerships and possibilities that lie ahead across Australia, New Zealand and internationally.”
Fremantle Media Australia creates, produces and distributes television content including Family Feud, Great Australian Bake Off, Wentworth and Neighbours. Previous projects include The X Factor, Australia’s Got Talent and Australian Idol.
