Andrew Llinares, the head of global entertainment at Fremantle, is slated to leave his position this spring. This move marks a significant transition for the company's entertainment division. During the interim period, Group CEO Jennifer Mullin will assume direct oversight of the global entertainment team and its leadership, as the search for a permanent replacement commences. Llinares' departure signals a strategic shift as he seeks to return to hands-on content creation, leveraging his extensive background in developing and producing popular television formats.

Since January 2023, Llinares has played a pivotal role in shaping Fremantle's entertainment portfolio and spearheading format development. His responsibilities included guiding the strategic direction of the company's global entertainment offerings, reporting directly to CEO Jennifer Mullin. His tenure saw the continued success and expansion of Fremantle's widely recognized programs across numerous international markets.

With over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Llinares boasts an impressive resume. He served as showrunner for iconic series such as "The X Factor" and "Britain's Got Talent" during their initial launches in 2004 and 2007, respectively. His expertise later extended to the United States, where he became an executive producer and showrunner for "The X Factor USA" and "Dancing With the Stars." His deep understanding of audience engagement and format innovation has been a cornerstone of his career.

Jennifer Mullin expressed her admiration for Llinares, stating, "Andrew is a visionary creative. I have been extremely fortunate to work closely with him over many years – both in his current leadership role and during his time as a creative executive producer and showrunner." She further added, "I fully appreciate and support Andrew’s decision to return to his real creative passion – making shows again. Although he will be deeply missed, we all wish him the very best for the future, and I am certain our collaboration will continue."

Llinares himself commented on his decision, saying, "I’ve loved every moment, but I couldn’t ignore the creative itch to get back to making content myself. Now it’s on to the next creative adventure." His desire to delve back into the creative process underscores a personal and professional calling to direct content development from a more hands-on perspective.

Fremantle's robust entertainment catalog includes highly successful franchises like "Masked Singer," "The X Factor," "Got Talent," and "Idol," among others. In 2025, the company achieved remarkable production milestones, delivering 345 commissions and 302 productions across 62 territories worldwide. This extensive output highlights the company's global reach and its significant impact on the international entertainment landscape.

The upcoming transition at Fremantle highlights a shift in leadership within its global entertainment division, driven by Andrew Llinares' decision to pursue a more direct role in content creation. This move comes after a productive period where he oversaw significant growth and development of the company's popular entertainment formats. The organization is now preparing to find a new director to build upon Llinares' contributions, ensuring continuity and further innovation in its diverse portfolio of shows.