Media company Fremantle has announced the appointment of Babita Bahal as Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I).
Bahal leaves her Channel 4 role as Head of Creative Diversity for the newly created DE&I role at Fremantle. The new DE&I role is part of the company’s “ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion”. Reporting to Fremantle’s Group HR Director Nicky Gray, Bahal will be responsible for driving the media company’s global DE&I initiatives.
ACCELERATING DE&I ON & OFF SCREEN
“Babita brings a wealth of experience that will help accelerate our efforts in continuously shaping a more diverse and inclusive culture,” commented Gray. “We have a responsibility as an organisation to ensure our workforce is inclusive; and reflects the communities in which we live and the audiences we serve. Our ongoing commitment to reflecting the diversity of the world in which we operate, on and off-screen, is essential to the success of our business and our creativity. By bringing Babita on board we are further committed to ensuring accountability for our progress.”
Commenting on the new role, Bahal, stated: “Moving to Fremantle is an exciting opportunity to build an inclusive, creative culture within a large, successful, global content creator. I’m delighted to be working with Nicky Gray and the Fremantle leadership team to attract and progress the best people from the widest range of backgrounds; and who reflect a global audience. I’m sad to leave Channel 4 and the exceptionally talented creative diversity team but leave safe in the knowledge that together we made significant steps towards greater representation for the channel.”
MEDIA DE&I EXPERTISE
While at Channel 4, Bahal and her team were responsible for improving on and off-screen representation across its content. She provided guidance and expertise on all aspects of inclusion, diversity and authentic portrayals for Channel 4’s commissioning team; as well as its independent production partners. Bahal was instrumental to key projects including the channel’s recent Black to Front Project, Paralympics and the Indie Accelerator; helping to increase representation and inclusion in the UK TV industry. Prior to joining Channel 4, Bahal was the Diversity and Inclusion Lead for BBC Content.
“Babita’s contribution to Channel 4 over the past two years has been phenomenal; and we look forward working closely with her in her new role as we all strive to bring about the much-needed changes to make the broadcast industry more inclusive and reflective of our audiences and our society,” stated Channel 4’s Director of Commissioning Operations Emma Hardy. “We wish her all the very best.”
Check out our Movers and Shakers section, for more new appointments and diversity champions in the DE&I/wellbeing space.
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