LONDON — HBO has unified its network of pay TV channels in Europe, and have appointed Herve Payan to take the helm as CEO.
HBO Europe, which oversaw the running of pay TV channels in Central, East and South-East Europe, HBO Nordic and HBO Netherlands have been brought under one umbrella organization.
Linda Jensen, CEO of HBO Europe, will exit the company at the end of the year. Payan, who is CEO of HBO Nordic, will become CEO of HBO Europe, which will oversee all of HBO’s channels in Europe.
“When Linda informed us she would be leaving we took an assessment of our European operations, and decided that to be most effective we should consolidate them under one venture,” said Bernadette Aulestia, executive VP, global distribution operations. “Herve has extensive experience, not only at HBO Nordic, but across Europe where he held a variety of senior positions. He is the perfect executive to lead this new structure into what will be a very exciting and dynamic future.”
“I had 11 great years at HBO and I am so proud of the success we achieved. I leave the company in the hands of such a talented team, and under this new structure they will take HBO to new heights,” Jensen said.
“This reorganization brings together a wealth of exceptional abilities and experience. The European television business is evolving quickly, and we will be well positioned to take advantage of all opportunities that emerge,” Payan said.
Before launching HBO Nordic in 2012, Payan held senior positions at leading television companies including Orange, Telepiu and Filmnet.
The senior management team reporting directly to Payan are Line Mykland, COO and executive VP, Nordic; Ondrej Zach, COO and executive VP, Central Europe; Antony Root, executive VP original programming and production, HBO Europe; Christina Sulebakk, executive VP of marketing, HBO Europe; Gordon Finlayson, general counsel, HBO Europe; and Szilveszter Palvolgyi, CFO, HBO Europe.
HBO Europe provides HBO and Cinemax branded linear channels, HBO GO and HBO On Demand through operator partners in Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the Netherlands HBO Channels and HBO GO are provided by HBO Nederland, a joint venture between HBO Europe and Ziggo BV.
HBO Nordic has established itself as The Home of Series, and is offering a premium Subscription Video on Demand Service, directly to consumers and through operator partners in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.
