FremantleMedia bosses quit

The bosses at FremantleMedia Australia, Mark and Carl Fennessy today announced they are departing the production giant.

As CEO and COO of the leading production company, brothers Mark and Carl will continue in their roles until November.

Both have been with the company following the buy out of Crackerjack Productions which Mark Fennessy started many years ago. Since joining FremantleMedia, formerly Grundys, the production company has gone from strength to strength producing some of the country’s top shows including Australian Idol, The Biggest Loser, So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Neighbours, Australia’s Got Talent and many more. This week it announced Grand Designs Australia for the LifeStyle channel.

Mediaweek indicates the duo have signed on with Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Reveille production outfit to launch an Australian office in the first half of 2010.

Simon Spalding, Regional CEO, Europe & Asia-Pacific, announced that the immediate priority is to appoint the new leadership.

“Everyone on the FremantleMedia Australia team is committed to ensuring we continue to produce the high quality productions that our customers and partners have come to expect from us. We have strength and depth, and we are all determined to make the necessary changes with the minimum amount of disruption,” he said.

There was no mention of acknowledging the achievements of the Fennessy brothers in the release.