Global content producer and distributor Fremantle has hired Laura Florence to lead its international free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels strategy.

Florence will serve as SVP, global FAST channels, and report to Jens Richter, CEO, commercial and international, Fremantle, according to a press release. She will be based in Los Angeles.

Fremantle is headquartered in London and has a Toronto office headed by Michela Di Mondo, EVP, distribution and sales, Canada. The company currently runs 33 FAST channels across all major platforms, said the release.

Florence joins Fremantle after previously serving as SVP and general manager, digital, at Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, where she oversaw Redbox and Crack+ digital platforms including transactional based video on demand (TVOD), advertisement based video on demand (AVOD), and FAST. She also oversaw content platform strategy and operations for the company’s distribution and production groups.

Richter said in a statement that “this is an integral role as we build out our global FAST strategy.”

Added Florence: “I look forward to leveraging the extensive catalogue of fan favorites and expanding their global channel distribution footprint.”

Fremantle is the international distributor for Canadian titles such as Crave and APTN’s Little Bird (Rezolution Pictures/OP Little Bird); CTV’s Sullivan’s Crossing, executive produced by Reel World Management in association with CTV and Fremantle; CTV’s Farming for Love, produced by Lark Productions in collaboration with Fremantle and in association with CTV; Citytv’s Canada’s Got Talent (McGillivray Entertainment Media, SYCO Entertainment, Fremantle); and CBC’s Family Feud Canada (Zone3).

Fremantle’s first FAST channel, Buzzr, launched in 2015, and showcased gameshow brands, including Press Your Luck, Family Feud and Password. Since then, it has launched a number of single IP channels including Baywatch, America’s Got Talent, Jamie Oliver and The Price is Right, as well as genre channels such as Places and Spaces, Cook Chop Chat, Sleuth and Quip.

Photo courtesy Fremantle