Essential hires Network Ten exec for key post

Australia’s Essential Media and Entertainment has appointed Network Ten’s Kate Brady as commercial director.

Brady joins from her former role as network business affairs manager at Network Ten to  focus on commercial interests and business affairs for Essential’s TV, theatrical and digital content.

She will report to Essential’s CEO Chris Hilton.

Brady has held senior commercial and legal positions across leading Australian networks and production companies including ABC, Matchbox Pictures and Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder.

Hilton said: “Kate will be a terrific asset to Essential with her extensive legal and commercial experience across both financing and production business affairs and we are delighted to welcome her aboard.”

Essential Media’s current Australian unscripted production slate includes a second season of Body Hack with Todd Sampson for Network Ten, Uncharted with Sam Neill for Foxtel and Prime in New Zealand and The Living Universe for the ABC, Arte France, SVOD service Curiosity Stream and UKTV.

The move comes two months after Essential sold its scripted arm to FremantleMedia, with company co-founder Ian Collie exiting to relaunc the unit as Easy Tiger Productions. Former Essential execs Rachael Turk and Tanya Phegan joined him.