Fremantle Names CEOs For Italian Producers Wildside & The Apartment

Sonia Rovai and Annamaria Morelli have been named as the new bosses of Wildside and The Apartment, respectively.

Former Sky Italia exec Rovai has become CEO of Wildside and Morelli CEO of the Apartment, following the exits of Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli, who today unveiled co-production deal with Fremantle through their new business.

The two companies will “continue to have editorial autonomy and to coordinate – from an organizational point of view – with Fremantle,” according to the super-indie.

Rovai has been MD of Wildside since October last year. Prior to that she was at Sky, where she had risen through the ranks to lead original productions during a 17-year stint at the Comcast-owned pay-TV broadcaster.

Morelli is a film and TV producer who since 2019 as been founder and CEO of Elsinore Film. Her previous roles include story editor posts at Rai and Mediaset.

Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO, Continental Europe, Fremantle, said: “Annamaria Morelli and Sonia Rovai have vision, experience and passion. I am so happy to welcome them to The Apartment and Wildside, two labels that have attracted some of the best talent, both Italian and international. We are and will continue to be the place creatives want to call home. A place where you can express your creativity by experimenting and innovating with freedom and independence, but also with the fundamental support of a global group such as Fremantle. A formula that I am sure will guarantee Morelli and Rovai the conditions to create new great successes.”

Annamaria Morelli, CEO, The Apartment, added: “I am so proud and happy to join this prestigious company and be part of the amazing world of the Fremantle group. I am also thrilled to work alongside Andrea Scrosati and the brilliant team I will be collaborating with. We share the same passion for the creation of unforgettable, high-end, inclusive stories and the ambition of taking them to global audiences.”

Sonia Rovai, CEO, Wildside, said: “Becoming CEO of Wildside is a privilege and a great challenge at the same time. Wildside is synonymous with excellence and professionalism in the world of movie production and is the result of the great work of Mario Gianani who has trained a group of high-level people and talent. My thanks go to Andrea Scrosati and all of Fremantle for the trust.”