Non-Fiction
FremantleMedia International expands emerging market operations
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) has today signaled its commitment to the emerging markets of the Middle East, Africa and South Eastern Europe by expanding the responsibilities of its Dubai office so that it becomes a distribution hub for the region, selling tape and formats as well as driving FremantleMedia’s ancillary and sponsorship activity. As a result of this additional focus and the region’s significant growth to date it has promoted Anahita Kheder to Senior Vice President, Middle East, Africa and South Eastern Europe and appointed Emre Mumcuoglu as Vice President, Distribution.
Reporting into Kheder, Mumcuoglu will relocate from Istanbul to Dubai with immediate effect. Together, the team will be responsible for developing and managing strategies to sell all FremantleMedia content to potential and current broadcasters and licensees across various distribution platforms in the region. The creation of the new distribution hub will enable FMI to increase business in these competitive markets with a vibrant local presence.
Jamie Lynn, Executive Vice President, Head of Distribution, EMEA said: “By expanding our Dubai operation to handle the key emerging markets of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa we’ve got a real opportunity to build on the significant successes we’ve had to date and to exploit opportunities with emerging players to cement our position as market leader in the region. In Anahita and Emre we have two hugely impressive executives whose deep local knowledge and wide-ranging experience will help us to drive these opportunities and grow our business further.”
Kheder has over 14 years of working with in the region and has been with FremantleMedia since 2011, when she joined FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) as VP, Middle East. Prior to joining FME, Kheder, held marketing positions within the music and sport industries before specialising in branded entertainment and entertainment marketing.
Mumcuoglu joins FMI from World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. in Turkey where he was responsible for the vision and strategic direction of the company’s business development in Turkey and Central Asia. In addition to his time at World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., he worked as Director of Programme Acquisitions for Fox Turkey. Prior to that Mumcuoglu worked at Discovery Networks in Istanbul where he was Head of Affiliate Sales for Turkey, Middle East and Israel.
MUMBAI: Dharma Cornerstone Agency is turning the page. The talent venture created by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Bunty Sajdeh’s Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment is being reshaped as both partners head in different directions, according to media reports.
What began as a bid to bring top-tier celebrity representation under one roof is now winding down its joint structure. With each company pursuing its own strategy in a fast-evolving talent industry, the partnership has reached its final chapter.
Reports suggest that Dharma is buying out Cornerstone’s 45 percent stake in the LLP. Once the transition is complete, Dharma is expected to hold full ownership and steer the operation entirely on its own.
The move comes at a time when celebrity and creator management is splintering into more specialised, independent models. Agencies are sharpening their focus as the entertainment economy grows more crowded and competitive.
DCA has represented a starry roster featuring Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor, Tripti Dimri, Aditya Roy Kapur, Neha Kakkar and Jubin Nautiyal, along with rising names including Ibrahim Ali Khan and Shanaya Kapoor. As the curtain falls on the joint venture, both Dharma and Cornerstone are expected to manage their talent stables separately.
The industry will watch closely as the two now script their next acts.
