MUMBAI: One of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world FremantleMedia has announced the appointment of Christian Schneider-Sickert as director of operations and strategy.

In this newly created position, Schneider-Sickert will be responsible for driving FremantleMedia's global company strategy, investment policy and central operations. In addition, he will be responsible for FremantleMedia's central business diversification activities, states an official release.

The roll-out of the successful Quizmania participation TV format, currently on air in the UK and Poland, will also be part of his extended remit. Schneider-Sickert will become a member of the FremantleMedia Operating Board with immediate effect.

Schneider-Sickert joined FremantleMedia from arvato, part of Bertelsmann, in June 2004, where he held the position of head of strategy. He previously worked in mergers and acquisitions for Bertelsmann and in the principal investment group at Goldman Sachs.

FremantleMedia CEO Tony Cohen said, "Christian has done an outstanding job in helping define FremantleMedia's strategy in an industry that is undergoing significant change, and I am looking forward to him driving our diversification activities."

Schneider-Sickert added: "I am delighted to have been asked to take on this new role and am looking forward to further developing FremantleMedia's commercial strategy and improving our operational efficiency."

Schneider-Sickert holds an M.A. in Oriental Studies from Oxford University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.