'American Idol' Producer FremantleMedia PR Head Exits

Longtime American Idol PR man Manfred Westphal has resigned from his post as senior vice president of marketing and communications at FremantleMedia North America, effective immediately, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

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Citing immediate personal family issues for his departure, Westphal commented, “My time at FremantleMedia with Cecile Frot-Coutaz has been a wonderful, professionally rewarding experience that I will always remember fondly. I want to thank everyone at FremantleMedia for a fantastic chapter in my career.”

Westphal started with the company in January 2007 and during his tenure oversaw all corporate, trade and consumer marketing and publicity for the U.S. division of the global media giant, which counts Idol, America’s Got Talent, The Price is Right, Family Feud, Let’s Make A Deal and the upcoming launch of The X Factor among its stable of television shows. Westphal also supervised several  relaunches, including the The Price is Right with new host Drew Carey in 2007, Let’s Make A Deal with host Wayne Brady in 2009, Family Feud with Steve Harvey in 2010 and the 10th season of American Idol with new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

Prior to joining FremantleMedia, Westphal served for six years as vice president of media relations at Paramount Domestic Television, where he supervised publicity for the Division’s syndicated and off-net programming, including Entertainment Tonight, Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, The Montel Williams Show, the 2002 launch of The Dr. Phil Show, and the 2004 launch of The Insider.