Discovery hires Google exec in Nordics

Discovery Networks has appointed a Google executive to head up its digital operations in the Nordics.

Karin Bonde

Karin Bonde has been named VP of digital in the Nordics and will lead Discovery’s digital entertainment business in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

She will be based in Stockholm and will oversee the operations of Discovery’s SVoD service Dplay, with all its exec reporting to her.

Bonde will also be part of Discovery Networks’ Swedish management board and will work closely with counterpart Trine Fjellberg Falnes, VP of Eurosport in the Nordics, to improve the company’s footprint in the region.

She joins having previously headed up video solutions for Google and YouTube in Sweden. Before that, she worked for Viasat’s on demand service Viaplay.

Incoming Discovery Networks Sweden CEO Henriette Zeuchner said Bonde’s “experience in business development and launches of advanced digital platforms and products” would help maximise Discovery’s “digital journey.”

Bonde added: “While traditional linear TV has a declining trend, we see a fantastic boom on the digital side. We will ensure Discovery continues to offer the attractive digital viewing experiences and engaging content our audience wants.”

Zeuchner is set to join from Stockholm-based outfit Berling Media in September to oversee Discovery networks including Channel 5, Eurosport, Discovery Channel and TLC.

She will report to Mike Lang, Discovery’s president of international development, digital and discovery for the Nordics, who was promoted to his position in November, six months after former Discovery Networks Sweden CEO Jonas Sjogren resigned from his post following more than a decade in the role.

Sjogren was briefly replaced by Harald Strømme, then head of TVNorge and Discovery Networks Norway, who left in February.

Earlier this year, parent Discovery Communications, which bought Scripps Networks Interactive for US$14.6bn in July, appointed former Twitter TV chief Fred Graver as its senior VP of digital content and social.