FRAPA appoints Mike Beale to management board
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Editor
| 05 March 2020

As it celebrates two decades’ worth of existence, the Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA) has appointed Mike Beale, managing director of the Global Creative Network at ITV Studios, to its management board.

Beale has been a member of the FRAPA general board since 2015. His elevation to the management board will enable him to play a more active role in shaping FRAPA’s ongoing objectives, designed to promote a global understanding of the primacy of original format creation. He will be responsible for boosting creativity, encouraging knowledge-sharing and developing global hits across the ITV group’s 36 non-scripted labels. He also acquires third-party IP for the Group’s production pipeline.

Having joined ITV Studios in 2011, Beale has presided over the firm’s rise into a global formats powerhouse overseeing a slate that includes such super-brands as The Chase, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Hell’s Kitchen, Come Dine With Me and Love Island. Prior to his new role he was also managing director of ITV Studios Nordic production labels.

Commenting on the move, FRAPA co-chair Phil Gurin said: “Mike Beale is a world-class creative leader. His unrivalled global perspective make him the perfect addition to the management board as we launch our FRAPA 2020 Vision Plan to mark our 20th anniversary. Mike’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we work to offer our growing global community of format producers the best services, resources and guidance.”

“Protecting the value of IP and creative ideas is one of the most important aspects of the formats business, and so I am delighted to be joining the management board of FRAPA which plays such a vital role within the industry,” Beale added. “I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on the board in representing our global members so that they may continue to concentrate on coming up with brilliant and unique ideas.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to offer real value to its membership, FRAPA has crafted a series of foundational documents designed to codify key aspects of the format industry. These include a format definition, which it is hoped will be adopted worldwide by courts and lawyers engaged in format disputes; a declaration of cooperation; and a code of conduct for FRAPA members.