FremantleMedia Enterprises Appoints EVP Brand Management And Marketing

BRANDORA Editorial Staff - August 2011

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the brand extension arm of global production company FremantleMedia, has appointed Kate Schlomann to the newly created position of EVP Brand Management and Marketing, based in London and reporting into Global CEO David Ellender.

FME is the one-stop-shop for international programme distribution, home entertainment, brand licensing and new media. The company has more than 20,000 hours of programming in its catalogue; extends IP across multiple revenue streams including merchandising, telephony, digital & online, publishing and live events; and manages DVD and VOD rights for hundreds of great titles.

The creation of this role has been driven by FME’s expansion into new areas of intellectual property development such as the Children’s & Family Entertainment division, launched in 2009 and non-TV IP such as the design-led fashion brand Rebecca Bonbon and table tennis brand Hard Bat. Some of FME’s major evergreen brands include the global hit entertainment franchises The X Factor, Idols and Got Talent; Neighbours, Grand Designs, The Price is Right, The IT Crowd and more.

Schlomann will be responsible for both the strategy and management of FME brands around the world as well as the global corporate marketing function for the company. She will work closely with FME’s regional CEOs to drive brand activity across the three regions (Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific), setting strategy and ensuring the delivery and coordination of activity. Schlomann will be tasked with integrating the marketing, PR, events and creative services departments in order to enforce corporate and brand messaging to attract and retain top-tier clients including major brands, retailers, broadcasters, licensees, retailers and more.

Ellender commented, “Kate’s background is impeccable; her experience with huge global kids’ brands, in major studio environments and in the licensing & retail space makes her the ideal candidate and we look forward to welcoming her to the FME family.”

Schlomann brings more than 15 years of experience to FME including her latest role as VP, International Brand Management for Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products where she managed brand and retail strategies as well as overseeing the creative for all licensed product for the international CP business across numerous hit properties including Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. Before that she was Marketing Director at Universal Studios Consumer Products where she managed licensing strategy, promotional and retail merchandising activity for Europe, the Middle East and South Africa.

Schlomann commented, “FME is one of the most innovative media companies around today. The combination of the brands they have in their portfolio, the areas they’re moving into and their approach to IP to maximise value both commercially and for consumers’ enjoyment, is totally unique and I’m really looking forward to joining the team.”

Kate Schlomann joins FME in November 2011.