Top execs exit FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America executives Lee Rierson and David Luner are exiting the business, TBI has confirmed.

COO Rierson (pictured) has decided against renewing his contract, while president of brand partnerships and franchise management David Luner is joining Lionsgate as executive VP, worldwide TV marketing in January.

Rierson, who joined FremantleMedia’s US and Canada arm from Shine America in July last year, will continue to consult on FMNA projects.

A FremantleMedia spokesman confirmed the departures, which were first reported on the Deadline Hollywood blog, and said no replacements were in place at this stage.

FMNA, which Thom Beers leads as CEO, is behind shows such as American Idol, America’s Got Talent, The Price is Right, Let’s Make a Deal and Family Feud.

The firm took a hit when Fox cancelled X Factor USA, with the reality series dropping off schedules in December last year.

FMNA parent FremantleMedia saw profits sharply decrease for the nine months to September this year, with lower revenues at American Idol attributed as one issue.

Meanwhile, FremantleMedia today revealed Mongol TV had commissioned Mongolia’s Got Talent for broadcast next year.

Simon Cowell, who owns Got Talent coproducer Syco Entertainment, joked during his MIPCOM keynote in October that Mongolia was one of the only territories in the world that didn’t have a local version of the format.

Mongol TV has also acquired season eight of the original British Got Talent series.

“When I heard Simon Cowell at MIPCOM saying that Got Talent had to be in Mongolia, I immediately decided to rise up to the challenge,” said Mongol TV CEO Nomin Chinbat. “Mongolians are great entertainers and this format is a great fit for Mongol TV. I now challenge Simon to join us in Ulaanbaatar in September when we launch the series.”

There are 67 local versions of the show internationally.