FRAPA – the Format Recognition and Protection Association- has announced that Phil Gurin and Lisette van Diepen will step down from their board responsibilities later this year.
Gurin has served on the FRAPA board for 16 years, most recently as chair for the past 10, and is president and CEO of prodco The Gurin Company and founder of specialist format distribution company TGC Global Entertainment (TGC GE).
Gurin has played a central role in the success of many formats, notably Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, Fridge Wars, Weakest Link, Lingo and Miss Universe. His awards tally includes four Primetime Emmy Awards for ABC’s Shark Tank, a Rose d’Or (Golden Rose) for the physical comedy game show Oh Sit! and a Gold Telly Award for the 50th NAACP Image Awards. His musical game show The Singing Bee remains one of the top-50 most-produced original formats of all time.
In 2015, he was appointed co-chair with Jan Salling, head of BBC Studios Nordics. Under their leadership, FRAPA has grown in size, scope and ambition, expanding its mission, services and purpose to ensure that it offers its members the legal, commercial and creative support they need to navigate an increasingly complex formats marketplace.
Also stepping down after 10 years on the management board is international format expert Lisette van Diepen, who joined the FRAPA general board in 2015, rising to become the association’s treasurer in 2019. Van Diepen is currently consulting to BBC Studios Nordic for Scandinavia and acquiring content for Benelux production group Vincent TV and German prodco Brot und Butter. Over her 30-year career, Van Diepen has been involved in acquiring numerous format super-brands, including Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Dragons’ Den, Survivor and Drag Race. Her CV includes stints with some of the biggest names in the industry, from her early days working alongside Dutch TV legends Joop van de Ende and John de Mol through to launching Sony Pictures Televisions’ acquisition division. In 2016, she launched her consultancy Marphes Media, working for such entertainment heavyweights as All3Media, Talpa and Fox Entertainment.
The Management Board of FRAPA said “It is with sadness and huge gratitude that we thank Phil and Lisette for their incredible contributions to FRAPA for the past decade and beyond. As FRAPA celebrates its 25th anniversary, it seems fitting to forge ahead into the future and explore how its mission continues in the ever evolving media landscape. We look forward to working with our Advisory Board on this and sharing with the wider community our next steps very soon, and seeing our friends and familiar faces at MIPCOM where we will absolutely celebrate Phil and Lisette’s undeniable contribution to FRAPA and the industry as a whole.”
Gurin said: “As I prepare to exit stage left from FRAPA, I can say hand on heart that it’s been a privilege to work with so many passionate professionals to help grow this unique volunteer organisation. But as FRAPA moves ahead, it’s time to hand over the reins to a new generation to tackle the many issues confronting our industry. As for my own future, I have ambitious plans for The Gurin Company and TGC Global Entertainment. Plus, I’m super excited about helping the TV Academy understand and engage with the world of international formats. Suffice to say…’
Phil Gurin © Television Academy_Mark Von Holden
Staff Reporter
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