Storied TV Exec Cecile Frot-Coutaz Leaves FremantleMedia To Lead YouTube’s EMEA Efforts

YouTube has tapped former FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz to lead the company throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Frot-Coutaz has been with the London-based TV producer and distributor — which is behind shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, American Gods, and The Young Pope — for more than two decades, and her departure arrives as something of a shock, per Variety. Fremantle owner RTL Group has begun to search for a successor, as Frot-Coutaz — who is recognized as one of the most important executives in international TV, and was named CEO of FreemantleMedia North America in 2012 — reportedly has a 12-month notice clause.

“Cecile comes with incredible experience in the media industry,” said YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl — to whom she will report. “Her leadership, guidance, strong network, and deep industry understanding will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our partnerships and grow our creator base throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”

While YouTube Red has yet to roll out abroad, CEO Susan Wojcicki says the service will expand to 100 countries this year — a huge leap from the five in which it currently operates. To this end, YouTube has acquired several projects that hail from Europe, including Origin, its first scripted U.K. series from the makers of Netflix‘s The Crown, as well as a soccer-themed reality series called Training Days from Fulwell 73, which produces The Late Late Show With James Corden.

Under Frot-Coutaz’s tenure, Fremantle established roughly 300 YouTube channels — including destinations for The X Factor and American Idol — which collectively clocked 26.2 billion views in 2017, according to Variety. “YouTube is the voice of a generation and has become an integral part of the world’s cultural conversation,” she said. “The opportunity to be part of that conversation and to work with Robert, his team, and the wider Google community was too good to turn down.”