Christian Vesper is exiting his role as Fremantle‘s CEO of Global Drama and Film.
The news brings to an end a ten-year run at the super-indie, during which time he executive-produced shows such as Picnic at Hanging Rock and films including Bugonia and Pillion.
Vesper has joined Fremantle from AMC Networks in 2016, after a five-year period at the cable network. At Fremantle, he was a kaey player in the company’s switch from a largely unscripted producer to one also a player in scripted. During his tenure, Fremantle released 80 films and is on track to release its hundredth this year.
He was based in London and reported to Fremantle Group COO and CEO for Continental Europe Andrea Scrosati, who will lead the film and drama teams on an interim basis alongside the wider management teams at those units.
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“With Christian at the helm, we have established our drama and film business and delivered both consistent success and critical acclaim,” said Scrosati. “Our scripted portfolio is today a key component of our business and recognised across the industry. Christian is a creative at heart, and his vision has helped build the credibility of our drama and film slate. We appreciate that he now wishes to focus on new horizons, and we all wish him well in the future.”
“After ten years with Fremantle, I have decided that the time is right to step down from my role as CEO Film and Drama,” added Vesper. “I would like to thank Jennifer Mullin and Andrea Scrosati for their incredible support, ambition and creative spirit, enabling us to build our film and drama capabilities. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, and the fact we will deliver our 100th film this year underlines the progress made.”
Under Vesper’s leadership, Fremantle struck scripted partnerships with Emma Stone and Dave McCary’s Fruit Tree Productions; Kristen Stewart, Dylan Meyer and Maggie McLean’s Nevermind Pictures; Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín’s Fabula; Rachel Weisz and Polly Stokes’ Astral Projection; Edward Berger’s Nine Hours; Johan Renck and Michael Parets’ Sinestra Films; Sarah Condon’s Fair Harbour; and Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar’s Me+You Productions.
Vesper was also exec producer on the Oscar-nominated Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons starrer Bugonia, Cannes prize winner Pillion, Daniel Craig pic Queer, Maria, Australian series Picnic at Hanging Rock and BBC/TVNZ miniseries The Luminaries. More recently, he worked to set up Fox’s Baywatch rival. Elsewhere, he worked with Angelina Jolie on Without Blood, Joe Wright on Sky Italia’s M. Son of the Century and Tom Alfredsson on Faithless.
Prior to Fremantle, he had a 14-year spell at Sundance TV, the AMC Networks channel. There he worked on Rectify, The Honorable Woman, The Last Panthers, Top of the Lake and Deutschland 83. He also had roles at HBO, iFilm, October Films and USA Films.