Rob Clark, Fremantle’s Director, Global Entertainment for the past two decades, is leaving the company. Clark was instrumental in expanding the X Factor, Got Talent, and Price Is Right around the world.
Fremantle has confirmed to Deadline that the beloved executive will retire in February 2023 and be replaced with a like-minded individual. At this week’s Mipcom Cannes, when Fremantle was present in full force, he told a number of people about it.
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fremantle Group Jennifer Mullin called him “one of the major architects of our enormous and successful Global Entertainment company.”
“Rob is the embodiment of the concept of connecting creativity at Fremantle,” stated Mullin. I know we all wish him the best in retirement, and I shall miss working with him.
As of early 2004, Clark has been serving as Fremantle’s Senior Vice President of Production for their global entertainment division. From there, he worked his way up to a position where he could aid in the international distribution of the company’s formats like Pop Idol.
After a nine-month hiatus in 2012, he was elevated to Director for Global Entertainment Development, where he oversaw worldwide format development for all of the company’s networks and was responsible for the X Factor, Idols, and Got Talent franchises, as well as The Apprentice.
Related
Embattled UK Leader Liz Truss Loses 2nd Minister In Week
BFI Launches New $17 Million National Lottery Audience Projects Fund
Deadly Drone Strikes Hit Kyiv As Russian Warplane Crashes
Hole in the Wall, Game of Talents, and The Greatest Dancer are just a few of the other productions he has contributed to.
The loss of Clark will be devastating for a corporation that showed significant presence at Mipcom Cannes.
On display at the glamorous Red Carpet event were Fremantle’s documentaries Planet Sex (with Cara Delevingne) and The Elon Musk Show, as well as the celebrity relationship format Unbreakable (starring Brian Cox).
Mullin and Group COO Andrea Scrosati made an unusually public appearance together to discuss mergers and acquisitions, the rising cost of living, and their goal of bringing in $3 billion in revenue this year.
