Sky Deutschland announces senior management changes
Sky Deutschland AG announces that Brian Sullivan is to step down as Chief Executive on 24 June in order to return to the US. The Supervisory Board has appointed Carsten Schmidt (pictured), currently Sky Deutschland’s Chief Officer Sports, Advertising Sales & Internet, to succeed Mr Sullivan. He takes on the new role of Deputy Chief Executive with immediate effect and will work alongside Mr Sullivan over the coming months before taking over as Chief Executive.
Carsten Schmidt has served on Sky Deutschland’s management board since 2006, after initially joining the company in 1999. In his current position, he has played a key role in the company’s strong growth and the development of its market-leading position in exclusive content, with responsibilities including sports programming and rights acquisition, online activities and advertising sales.
Jeremy Darroch, Group Chief Executive of Sky plc and Chairman of Sky Deutschland’s Supervisory Board, commented:“Brian has made a huge contribution to Sky Deutschland over the last five years. He has built an excellent team who have delivered a step-change in growth and opened up the significant future opportunity for Sky in Germany and Austria. We wish him the very best as he returns to the US.
“We are delighted to appoint such an experienced and capable executive from within the existing leadership team. Carsten has played a central role in the transformation of Sky in Germany, building a strong business in premium sport with a deserved reputation for outstanding quality and innovation. With the support of an excellent team, he will lead the next phase of Sky’s growth as it continues to execute on a well-established and successful strategy.”
Carsten Schmidt, Deputy Chief Executive, Sky Deutschland, said:“This is an exciting time for Sky in Germany and Austria. The business is performing very well, and with the support of the wider Sky group, we are now even better positioned to exploit the huge potential in our sector. I’m looking forward to working with the team to bring the Sky experience to many more customers in the future.”
Brian Sullivan, Chief Executive, Sky Deutschland, added:“Sky Deutschland has come a long way over the last few years. The product we deliver today is amongst the best in the world, whether that be our outstanding content, amazing innovations or award winning customer service. And customers have responded in the millions. This could not have been accomplished without the incredible team here at Sky, of which Carsten has been an outstanding member. I cannot think of a better person to work with Jeremy and the whole team to bring the next chapter of the Sky story to life.”
Enquiries:
Alice Macandrew
Director of Corporate Communications
0207 032 4256
skypress@sky.uk
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Notes to Editors
Carsten Schmidt (born 1963) is Chief Officer Sports, Advertising Sales & Internet of Sky Deutschland. He is responsible for the editorial work and production of sports programming (including the news channel Sky Sport News HD) and sports rights acquisition. He is also in charge of all of the company’s online activities as well as the program management of Sky Austria and is acting as Managing Director of Sky’s advertising sales subsidiary Sky Media Network.
Before his appointment to the management board of Sky in March 2006, Schmidt had led the sports department at the Munich-based entertainment company for several years. Prior to that, as Managing Director of WIGE Media, one of Europe’s leading sports media providers, he was in charge of the Marketing and Television division for four years.
Schmidt is also a Director of the Sky Foundation and spokesperson for the advisory board of the Fachverband für Sponsoring und Sonderwerbeformen eV. (FASPO; Professional Association for Sponsoring and Special Advertising Formats). He was awarded with the Deutsche Fernsehpreis in 2003 for the Bundesliga conference innovation and named “Sports Business Manager of the Year” by specialist magazine HORIZONT in 2012.
About Sky
Sky is Europe’s leading entertainment company. The group serves 21 million customers across five countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.
Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe’s leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of over £4.6 billion. The company employs 31,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate.
