SPT hires Mediaset acquisitions head

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has appointed Mediaset’s long-serving acquisitions chief to head the company’s distribution operations in Italy.

Zelda Stewart

Zelda Stewart becomes VP of distribution for SPT in Italy with a remit to expand the company’s sales in broadcast, digital and VoD services.

She takes up her post this month and will be based in Milan, where the company will open another office in the summer.

Stewart, who reports to Andreas Brosjo, SPT’s senior VP for distribution, joins from Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset, where she has been head of acquisitions since 2005.

Brosjo said: “Zelda has unrivalled knowledge of the Italian media landscape and a deep understanding of what buyers need. She is poised to further our ambitions in Italy and brings incredible insight and skill to this important market.”

Stewart has spent the past two decades in Italy, firstly at Disney Channel in marketing then production, before joining Mediaset as an acquisitions executive in 2001.

Earlier this year SPT moved into the Italian free-to-air market for the first time with the acquisition of two channels.

The Sony Pictures Television Networks arm of the business bought NekoTV and Capri Gourmet from Television Broadcasting System. The two networks have been airing on the Italian DTT platform since 2011.