London – FremantleMedia has appointed Sangeeta Desai to the combined role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of FremantleMedia, effective immediately.

In her new role, Desai will be responsible for the management of FremantleMedia’s operations in its corporate centre including financial performance, legal and business affairs, IT, purchasing and procurement, and property. Desai will be based in London, reporting directly to the CEO of FremantleMedia, Cecile Frot-Coutaz,  and will sit on the company’s Board of Directors.

“Sangeeta has an exceptional track record of driving strong business growth and operational performance, along with a deep understanding of the media industry and FremantleMedia’s key business areas. She has clear expertise in successfully implementing strategies that substantially increase company value, as well as greatly enhancing operational effectiveness and efficiency. Sangeeta’s strategic vision and financial and operational know how will be a formidable asset to FremantleMedia and I am delighted to welcome her to the management team,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia.   

Desai formerly held the position of COO at HIT Entertainment where she managed the company’s daily operations, including business development and global brand management, and had global responsibility for revenue functions including TV, brands, consumer products, DVD, and live events/attractions. She also managed offices in London, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Prior to joining HIT Entertainment, Desai was a Principal at Apax Partners where she handled financial responsibilities and worked with management teams in the media sector globally with a particular focus on the entertainment and TV production sub-sectors.