Roy Ackerman and Emma Cooper have joined Pulse, respectively, as managing director and creative director of non-scripted television, The hires further expand Pulse’s TV commitment and agenda, coming on the heels of Pulse’s announced launch of East Entertainment, a joint venture with Israeli TV company Abot Hameiri.
Led by Ackerman, Pulse will expand its television business, focusing initially on creating contemporary documentaries, documentary series and innovative, modern factual formats. Ackerman and Cooper will form an integral part of Pulse’s emerging international studio, offering culturally relevant content across all platforms, including film, branded entertainment and digital-first premium video.
Non-scripted TV is the final building block of the company’s multiplatform business model and figures prominently in the next stage of Pulse’s growth.
Ackerman was most recently managing director at Fresh One Productions and chief creative officer at the Jamie Oliver Media Group, where he played an integral role in transforming the celebrity chef’s offering from a celebrity vehicle into an international multi-platform independent producer of scale. Ackerman executive produced hit series Dream School (UK/USA, South Africa), the Emmy-winning Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, How Hip Hop Changed the World with Idris Elba, The Sound of Musicals, Spies of Warsaw with David Tennant, Don’t Stop the Music, The Men Who Made Us Fat and Mad Dog: Gaddafi, as well as feature documentaries including Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic and The House I Live In. Under Ackerman’s leadership, the company also successfully launched advertising , scripted and digital production divisions, including the hit online channel Food Tube. Prior to his role at Jamie Oliver Media Group, Ackerman was creative director at Diverse Production where he oversaw production on BAFTA-winning hits Election with Jonathan Dimbleby, 100% White, Tsunami: 7 Hours on Boxing Day, BAFTA-nominated Mrs. Mandela, and successful formats including Operatunity, Musicality, Codex, Shalom in the Home and the international hit series Man Vs. Wild.
As commissioning editor in documentaries at U.K.’s Channel 4 since 2011, Cooper has a track record for developing award winning, innovative and trend-setting TV shows that encourage discussion. Not only was she responsible for the Cutting Edge strand, recent film work included Angry, White and Proud, Plus Size Wars, The Murder Workers, The Fried Chicken Shop, and My Granny The Escort, alongside series Rookies At Sea, The Night Bus, Teens, Liberty of London and How To Get A Council House. Prior to Channel 4, Cooper was at the BBC where she directed and series produced films including Louis Theroux: A Place for Paedophiles and Miami Mega-Jail.
Pulse global CEO Thomas Benski and president Patrick Vien said that Ackerman and Cooper will allow the company to create a bigger footprint in the TV medium and become a major supplier for broadcasters both in the U.K. and overseas.
Ackerman said he was drawn to “Pulse’s culture, its brand and its clear differentiation from all the other media companies around. Its plans for growth in television and its vision worked with what I want to do. I am really pleased to be joining such a young, vibrant company brimming with talent in many different fields – advertising, drama, music and branded content, and I look forward to bringing my industry experience to the table. Emma has a superb reputation as a commissioner and I am delighted to be working alongside her to kick-start Pulse’s TV offering and being a core part of the studio’s next steps towards being a truly global company.”
