With an eye on expansion and convergence, Fact Based Communications, a London-based television and new-media group, scored a coup by luring three key execs away from the CNNfn family, including principal anchor John Defterios.
The trio -- Defterios, CNNfn weekend programming VP Albie Bozzo and "Business Usual" producer Eckart Sager -- will defect from the Turner channel, filling key slots within the growing FBC organization.
Their departures could ramp up recent speculation that CNNfn, which has struggled to beef up its subscriber base, may be folded back into CNN.
Defterios will serve as VP of content for the company as well as anchor. He had an eight-year run at CNN, most recently anchoring morning business news program "Ahead of the Curve." The newsman had also anchored CNN International's flagship program "World Business Today," from London, in '94-'96. Before joining CNN, he served as bureau chief for PBS' "Nightly Business Report."
Among Defterios' first assignments at FBC will be co-anchoring the company's flagship program "Global Economic Review."
"I've been luring him for many months now," said Alan Friedman, chairman and CEO of FBC as well as global economics correspondent for the International Herald Tribune. "But we've been wanting to work together for years. He loves the challenge of having senior responsibility in management and likes the idea of being able to put a convergence play into motion by working with Internet companies to provide high quality content."
FBC plans to use the trio to expand the company's reach on television and the Internet using its alliances with the International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg Television, the Italian state broadcasting group RAI and Beyond Entertainment Group of Australia.
Bozzo will serve as FBC VP and executive editor while Sager becomes London bureau chief for the company and serves as the principal liaison with Bloomberg TV in London.
"We are delighted that three of CNN's top financial talents are joining in senior management roles at FBC," said Friedman. "This helps us assemble a dream team within the news world that has credibility and is culturally sensitive."
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