Fremantle has named Sharon Levy as CEO of Fremantle Americas & Australia, effective mid-January 2027. She will be based in Los Angeles and report to Fremantle Group CEO Jennifer Mullin.
The appointment puts one executive in charge of production operations across the United States, Mexico and Australia. Levy also joins Fremantle’s Global Leadership Team.
What the new role covers
Levy will oversee production labels, customer relationships, talent partnerships, creative development and the production slate in all three markets. She also takes responsibility for the company’s intellectual property portfolio.
Fremantle said the role absorbs regional responsibilities previously held by Mullin and is part of the group’s broader global growth strategy. For outside producers and platform partners, the change consolidates the main point of contact for Fremantle’s production labels in these regions.
The Banijay record she brings
Levy joins from Banijay, where she was CEO of Endemol Shine North America. Her portfolio included unscripted franchises that are familiar to buyers and platforms:
- MasterChef and LEGO Masters
- Deal or No Deal Island and The Summit
- Fear Factor: House of Fear
She also expanded the scripted slate with Ripley and the HBO Max international co-production Like Water for Chocolate, and launched Banijay Launch, a creator accelerator spanning more than 30 territories.
Before Endemol Shine North America, Levy was executive vice president of original series at Spike TV, where she worked across Ink Master, Bar Rescue, Auction Hunters and Deadliest Warrior. She is a Peabody Award recipient, an Emmy-nominated producer and has appeared on The Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful Producers in Unscripted TV list.
Why this matters for the screen business
For media planners, streamers and production partners, the appointment signals where Fremantle is concentrating its bets. Unscripted formats such as MasterChef and LEGO Masters are returnable, localisable and familiar to ad-supported schedules. Levy’s background sits squarely in that world.
The consolidated remit also matters operationally. With one leader across three key production markets, format transfers, talent deals and IP licensing have a shorter decision line, which can speed up how quickly a title travels.
There are a few signals worth tracking:
- One commercial and creative lead across the U.S., Mexico and Australia.
- A resume built on returnable unscripted franchises rather than one-off events.
- A creator-accelerator background that could feed Fremantle’s pipeline.
“Sharon is an exceptional executive with a proven ability to build businesses, develop talent and deliver outstanding content,” Mullin said.
The first test will be whether Fremantle uses the combined remit to move formats and talent between markets faster than before. Levy’s challenge is to keep legacy labels productive while building new franchises and scripted opportunities.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
