London – FremantleMedia is continuing to grow its global production business by opening a new Spanish office in Madrid and appointing Nathalie Garcia as Chief Executive Officer. Reporting directly to FremantleMedia’s Chief Executive Officer, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Garcia will be charged with the strategic vision and overall management of the business, as well as developing and producing programming for broadcasters in the market.
FremantleMedia’s Chief Executive Officer, Cecile Frot-Coutaz said: “Having a presence in Spain is an important step in FremantleMedia’s growth strategy for southern Europe. Nathalie’s impressive track record in understanding the Iberian television market and her expertise working with key broadcasters to develop successful originations and local format productions will be invaluable in helping us to gain a foothold in this market, as we seek to broaden our global presence further.”
Nathalie Garcia said: “FremantleMedia has a worldwide reputation as a high quality television producer with an international network of production offices that feed and supply one another. I’m very much looking forward to working with such a global business, helping to build FremantleMedia España’s operation. I can’t wait to work with local broadcasters on FremantleMedia’s impressive catalogue of brands like Family Feud, Got Talent, The X Factor, Idols and The Price is Right in order to build a 360 degree business that encompasses television and digital.”
Garcia joins FremantleMedia from Plural Entertainment where she was CEO for Spain and Portugal. She is credited with restructuring the business to bring it more in line with market conditions, securing long-term production commitments like Hermano Mayor (Spanish adaptation of French format Le Grand Frère) and boosting the novelas production with both original developments and adaptations of formats such as Belmonte (based on Telemundo´s Herederos del Monte).
Before Plural, Garcia was CEO of Notro TV, part of the Vertice 360 Group. Within two years, the company was positioned as one of the main players in Spain, developing local productions including Doctor Mateo – highly successful local version of the U.K. series, Doc Martin. As SVP Distribution and Production for Sony Pictures Television International, Garcia opened Sony´s office in the territory, leading the company for 10 years, and launched the production business, getting two series commissioned, including Spain’s first local drama in HD, based up on the Argentinian format Los Simuladores. She began her television career with Telemadrid, negotiating film buying from large multinational companies.
Garcia joins FremantleMedia in March.
