Co-CEOs to head ProSieben entertainment

German media group ProSiebenSat.1 Media has set up a new management structure, with two co-CEOs appointed to lead its entertainment division.

Wolfgang Link

Wolfgang Link and Michaela Tod have been named co-CEOs of ProSiebenSat.1’s entertainment unit, which will be structured as a stand-alone company within the group.

Link, formerly chief content and channel officer, entertainment, will be responsible for ProSiebenSat.1’s linear and digital content as well as all platforms.

Tod, who will join ProSiebenSat.1 in April, will be responsible for the management and further development of the sales, ad tech, SevenVentures and marketing divisions.

She previously spent more than 14 years with UK technology group Dyson, most recently leading its Greater China region as president.

The changes will come into effect on April 1, with ProSiebenSat.1 establishing a new executive committee, consisting of the CEO, chief financial officer and deputy CEO group general counsel.

Michaela Tod

Its entertainment, content production and commerce business units will each be led by two co-CEOs. They and some key functional leaders will be part of a broader executive board, reporting to ProSiebenSat.1 CEO Max Conze, who replaced the long-serving Thomas Ebeling last year.

The content production and global sales unit will continue to be led by James Baker, president and chief operating officer of Red Arrow Studios, and Reza Izad, co-founder and CEO of Studio71.

Claas van Delden and Dr Florian Tappeiner will manage its commerce business, known as NuCom Group.

The new management structure will see Jan Kemper, group CFO and executive board member, commerce, and Sabine Eckhardt, executive board member, sales and marketing, leave the company by mutual consent.

Max Conze

Rainer Beaujean will become new CFO of ProSiebenSat.1, while Tod will take over Eckhardt’s responsibilities.

“We are making good progress on our transformational journey to build a consumer centric, digital first entertainment to commerce powerhouse. Having clear companies and CEOs leading the business with a sharper and efficient holding structure will help us accelerate further,” said Conze.

ProSiebenSat.1 operates commercial channels in Germany including Sat.1, ProSieben, Kabel Eins, Sixx, Sat.1 Gold, ProSieben Maxx and Kabel Eins Doku.

Red Arrow Entertainment Group was brought together with multi-channel network Studio71 under the name Red Arrow Studios in late 2017, with digital and traditional production businesses coming under the same roof.