Charles Garland, COO of Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment media group, has quit the company and is understood to be planning his own content-and-branding company.
Garland, who joined the London-based firm eight years ago from the advertising sector, says he is taking a five-month break to travel around the world with his family before embarking on his new venture.
According to sources, Garland will not be replaced as COO at 19 Entertainment. His responsibilities will be shared among the company’s senior executives, who include current president Robert Dodds.
Dodds joined 19 Entertainment in September 2006, after the group acquired his branded-content company Freedom Media.
In a statement, Fuller said he hoped that he and Garland would work together in the future. “He has some great ideas and we wish him all the best in his new venture. I am looking forward to us partnering on projects together,” he said.
Fuller, who masterminded the indomitable rise of the Spice Girls as an artist manager, is creator of the Pop Idol TV franchise, which includes the U.S.’ “American Idol” TV show, the U.K. edition “Pop Idol,” and the format’s several other versions in more than 30 countries.
