FremantleMedia International (FMI), confirmed yesterday the appointment of Nick Pawsey as its new VP of Sales and Distribution, reporting into Jamie Lynn, EVP, Head of Sales & Distribution, EMEA.

Overseeing FMI’s expanding business across CEE, Russia and CIS, Pawsey will be responsible for continuing the company’s growth throughout the region and maximizing FMI’s content opportunities across all broadcasters and platform partners.

Prior to joining FMI, Pawsey gained 15 years of international experience in content distribution and acquisitions having served most recently as Director of Sales, Strategy & Development at NBC Universal International Television where he was responsible for the commercial strategy and development of NBCU’s channels (Syfy, 13th Street, Universal Channel and E!) and film and TV series distribution businesses across France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Pawsey also held positions at Antenna Group, Planet TV Slovenia, Prva TV Serbia, Antenna TV Greece, Wall to Wall Media and Warner Bros. International Television.

Also yesterday, ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) announced that Pascal Dalton has joined the company as Vice President, Global Format Sales. He will have responsibility for ITVS GE's worldwide formats strategy, including building on its current production partnerships and exploring new opportunities internationally.

Dalton was previously Regional Sales Director at Endemol Shine Group, responsible for licensing scripted and non-scripted formats, as well as ancillary content from the company's IP, across over 20 markets in Central and Eastern Europe. He played an instrumental role in business growth across the region, which included MasterChef, Big Brother and the rollout of the hit format Your Face Sounds Familiar.

Following Dalton’s departure, Endemol Shine International has promoted CEE sales manager Natalie Bushaeva to director to replace him, with Tatjana Kostovski upped to sales coordinator and taking some sales responsibilities. Maria Makedonskaya will continue to manage regional global affairs, adding North African format oversight to her duties.

Separately, Ella Umansky has been promoted to Head of Formats Support, ITV Studios. Umansky, who joined ITV Studios in 2013, will work alongside Dalton to help support the productions created by format sales, and steps up to run the team which manages the flow of information on new formats – including consultancies, marketing information and sales support materials – throughout the ITV network of companies. Both will report in to Mike Beale, Managing Director, Nordics & Global Creative Network at ITV Studios.

"Pascal's appointment is an important step for our formats strategy," said Beale. "It will allow us to really build on our collaborative potential worldwide and, together with Ella, will ensure that our creative teams are aligned with our distribution approach and vice versa. We need a constant dialogue with key stakeholders across the business to ensure that the formats sold are properly supported and given the best opportunity for success, and this new set-up will help us to facilitate it."