Vice Media appoints Nutopia’s Franses, preps UK online channels

Vice, the publishing-to-TV media company, has hired Laura Franses to run its UK operation.

Franses was the cofounder, along with Jane Root, of Nutopia, leaving the factual producer last September. She has also worked at Zodiak Media, Fox and Film Four in the UK.

At Vice, Franses will take the managing director role as the lifestyle brand moves more heavily into video and digital channels. In the US it has launched a Vice news magazine show on HBO, which received an Emmy nomination.

In the UK it will launch a trio of online channels later this year. Thump, will cover the electronic music scene and i-D the fashion sector. There will also be a Vice news channel.

Franses will report to Matt Elek, Vice’s managing director, EMEA.