YouTube executive and former Fremantle boss Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been named CEO of Sky Studios, the heavy-hitting production and development arm for Sky.Frot-Coutaz takes the reins from current chief executive Gary Davey, who launched Sky Studios in 2019. The long-time Sky executive announced his retirement in December, and will be stepping down later this year following a transition period.Currently head of YouTube in EMEA and formerly CEO of super-indie Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will sit on Sky’s group executive and will begin...
Cécile
Frot-Coutaz
Head, EMEA
After more than 20 years at FremantleMedia, six of themas CEO, Frot-Coutaz surprised many with the announcement in March 2018 that she was stepping down to head up YouTube’s operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa and grow the company’s creator base. But she’s no stranger to the platform: Under her leadership, Fremantle embraced digital distribution, establishing almost 300 YouTube channels out of her belief that the medium represents “the voice of a generation” and “an integral part of the world’s cultural conversation.” June 2018 saw the launch of the YouTube Premium subscription service in 11 new European markets. At Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz led a push into scripted fare that included “The Young Pope” and “American Gods.”