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Tag: rolls out

  • FremantleMedia rolls out ‘New Platforms’; appoints Mackay as CEO

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has rolled out a new content division called New Platforms. FremantleMedia Enterprises CEO Catherine Mackay has been promoted to CEO of this new business.

    In this role, Mackay will be responsible for establishing and growing FremantleMedia’s capabilities to create, produce and supply original entertainment for a broad range of new distribution platforms and new devices.

    Specifically, the division will have the primary responsibility within FremantleMedia for creating and supplying new content to telecom companies, mobile operators, broadband Internet and other platforms.

    New Platforms’ mandate will include creating content with the potential to be rolled out as global formats for the new platforms, as well as investing in opportunities to build direct-to-consumer entertainment businesses.

    Mackay will continue as CEO of Enterprises, the division which comprises the company’s existing ancillary rights and international distribution businesses, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) and Fremantle International Distribution (FID), respectively.

    FLW CEO Simon Spalding and FID managing director David Ellender will continue to report to Mackay, who will work closely with them in establishing the new division, integrating, supporting and building on the initiatives already being developed within Enterprises and FremantleMedia.

    Mackay will also continue to manage FremantleMedia’s Technology Investment Fund and to coordinate other technology activities around the company.

    Mackay has been appointed to this position from her previous role as regional CEO, USA, Australia and Asia and CEO FremantleMedia Enterprises, where she was responsible for driving the performance and growth of FremantleMedia’s production operations in the US, Australia and Asia and for the company’s ancillary rights and distribution businesses incorporated under FremantleMedia Enterprises.

    She will continue to be based in New York and report to Cohen.

    Mackay moved to the US in 1997 to take on the role of executive president of operations for Pearson Television’s North American syndication business. Before that, she was general manager of Pearson Television’s Broadcasting Division in Asia.

    Earlier in her career, she worked for Compagnie Generale des Eaux (now Vivendi) in their cable TV business, for Plaisance Films, a television production company based in Paris, and for Lazard Freres & Co., an American investment bank.

  • Tata Motors rolls out first CityRover

    Tata Motors rolls out first CityRover

    MUMBAI: After Indica and Indigo comes the Tata CityRover!

    In what is being referred to as a momentous occasion for India’s indigenous automobile industry, Tata Motors rolled out the first batch of CityRover cars, to be marketed by MG Rover in the highly competitive UK and European markets.

    Tata Motors (formerly TELCO) is India’s largest integrated automobile manufacturing company founded in 1945. The agreement between Tata Motors and MG Rover was inked in December 2002. Manufactured at Tata Motors’ Pune plant, the CityRover will be marketed through Rover’s wide dealer network in the UK and in continental Europe.

    Tata Motors executive director Dr Sumantran handed over the first CityRover to MG Rover CEO Kevin Howe at its ceremonial roll-out off the assembly-line at the Tata Motors plant in Pune.

    MG Rover’s Howe drove the CityRover at the Tata Motors factory and expressed his pleasure with the car, “In order to effectively meet the market requirements of the UK, we felt the need to introduce a small car which would target the ‘city car sector’. Tata Indica is a product of international standards that fits in perfectly with our requirement as the basis for the CityRover. The CityRover will help us open a new customer segment in the highly competitive UK market,” Howe adds.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sumantran said, “The Indica’s success in the domestic market has been due to its strong value proposition, and its emergence on the international automobile market is a natural progression. The CityRover retains all the attributes of the Indica which have made it one of India’s biggest successes, while introducing into the car characteristics which are unique to Rover and therefore suited to that brand and the driving environment in the UK and Europe.”

    Tata Motors will continue to market the Tata branded Indica through its existing network in Continental Europe. This agreement between Tata Motors and MG Rover is being seen by the global automobile industry as the coming of age of India’s automotive Industry and is an affirmation of Tata Motors’ product development and manufacturing expertise.

    The CityRover is being positioned as an attractive modern ”city car sector” small car that provides the most competitive value-for-money blend of space, performance and specification available in the ?6,500-?8,500 price band. The ”city car” sector of the overall European small car market accounted for 1.1 million sales in 2002 and provides a significant market for the CityRover.

    The CityRover will be available in the UK and later in continental Europe through the Rover dealer network in four versions, namely, ‘Solo’, ‘Sprite’, ‘Select’ and ‘Style’ to suit the lifestyle requirements of its diverse customer base.

    The CityRover models will be powered by a 1.4 litre petrol engine, with an alloy cylinder head, single overhead camshaft and multi-point fuel injection. It develops 85Ps at 5500rpm, and a solid 115Nm of torque at 3000rpm and has a five-speed manual transmission. The CityRover has an all-independent coil sprung suspension for excellent ride and handling characteristics.

    Tata Motors, has a wide product range of commercial vehicles, utility vehicles and passenger cars. The company’s passenger car product portfolio includes the luxurious Sports Utility Vehicle – Tata Safari, the Sumo; and Spacio range of Utility Vehicles Tata Indigo, the largest selling mid-size entry vehicle; and Tata Indica, India’s indigenously developed compact car.

    Internationally, the MG Rover Group sells cars in more than 65 markets. The company has wholly owned sales organisations throughout major European markets, including the UK. The company engineers, produces and markets cars, which carry the MG and Rover brands.

    The MG Rover Group is owned by Phoenix Venture Holdings Limited, a British-owned company. The company was formed following the purchase of the Rover Group from BMW in May 2000. The total group had an annual sales volume in excess of 150,000 units in the year 2002.