Under Frot-Coutaz's guidance, FMNA continues to develop ground-breaking programming including "How Clean Is Your House?" on Lifetime as well as "Distraction" (Comedy Central) and "Property Ladder" (TLC). In addition, as executive producer of "American Idol," Frot-Coutaz plays a central role in the overall management and direction of the popular hit. Born and raised in France, Frot-Coutaz earned her MBA from the prestigious INSEAD, Paris in 1994. She was promptly recruited to London by the Pearson Group, where she developed business strategies for the company's media holdings. When Pearson purchased the assets of Grundy Television a year later, Frot-Coutaz was promoted to Corporate Strategy Executive. Displaying the business acumen that has become a hallmark of her career, she helped plan and execute the mergers and acquisitions - most notably All-American Fremantle - that would transform a local enterprise into one of the largest independent production companies in the world. Following the integration of All-American Fremantle into the Pearson Group, Frot-Coutaz was named Fremantle's Deputy CEO Southern Europe and, then, Managing Director France. In these positions, she upgraded the company's operations in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal by restructuring management, shoring up day-to-day procedures and developing a new production slate. After a short stint in San Francisco creating online and interactive strategies for Pearson, Frot-Coutaz joined the newly re-branded FremantleMedia at its North American headquarters in Los Angeles, where she served as Executive Vice President, Commercial and Operations until being promoted to COO, Production in 2002 and, ultimately to CEO in 2005. View More: Board Of Directors | NATPE Staff | International Contacts |
2008 Conference & Exhibition:
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As Chief Executive Officer, Cecile Frot-Coutaz oversees all creative and business matters for FremantleMedia North America, Inc. (FMNA). With more than a decade of international broadcast experience, Frot-Coutaz has helped propel FMNA to the leading edge of global television production and has the distinction of having shepherded the television phenomenon "American Idol" to become an unparalleled crossover success.
