In a significant blow to the UK production company Naked, two more senior executives have left the company. Tamara Howe, commercial boss, and Cam de la Huerta, Head of Formats, join a growing list of high-profile departures from the Fremantle label. This news comes on the heels of the exits of factual entertainment chief James Lessell and MD Fatima Salaria. The continuous exodus raises questions about the future of Naked and the reasons behind these key departures.
In an all-staff email, Naked MD Tom O’Brien expressed gratitude towards the departing executives. He commended Tamara Howe for leaving the company “in a better place” after her three-year tenure as Director of Commercial and Operations. With prior experience as MD of Vice TV EMEA and many years at the BBC, Howe brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Naked. O’Brien also acknowledged her dedication to nurturing diverse talent within the company and centralizing welfare and casting teams. However, one cannot help but wonder why such a valuable asset would choose to leave.
Cam de la Huerta, the former Head of Formats, was also thanked for his “passion and hard work.” Although he only joined Naked last year, de la Huerta quickly made an impact on the company by working on successful projects such as The Unofficial Science of Home Alone for Sky Max. His departure so soon after James Lessell may indicate a deeper issue within the company that merits investigation.
Naked Productions is known for its hit BBC shows, including The Apprentice, The Rap Game UK, and Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne. However, recent developments have put the company in a state of flux. Alongside high-profile departures, Naked is also working on several new projects, including a Netflix reality show called Banned Camp, an Amazon Prime Video series called Hot Mess Summer, and an untitled non-monogamous dating format for Peacock. This flurry of activity and the company’s shift towards streaming platforms may have contributed to the mounting pressure felt by the departing executives.
With the departure of Fatima Salaria earlier this year, Tom O’Brien, Naked’s former Creative Director, took on the role of MD. However, O’Brien’s previous position has remained vacant, leaving a significant gap in the company’s leadership structure. The absence of a Creative Director raises concerns about the direction Naked will take in the future and whether they can continue to deliver the high-quality content they are known for.
Meanwhile, the greater Fremantle UK organization, which owns Naked Productions, is facing its own challenges. CEO Simon Andreae recently resigned following allegations of workplace misconduct. These upheavals at both the subsidiary and parent company levels suggest deeper issues that need to be addressed urgently.
As Naked Productions grapples with these departures and organizational changes, the industry is left wondering about the underlying reasons for the exodus. Is it a simple case of executives seeking new challenges, or is there a more systemic problem within the company? It remains to be seen how Naked will navigate the uncertain terrain ahead and regain its footing in the highly competitive world of television production.