Discovery names Perrette int’l boss

Discovery Communications has named JB Perrette the next president of Discovery Networks International (DNI), taking over from veteran Mark Hollinger, who announced his resignation in September.

JB Perrette

Perrette joined Discovery from NBCUniversal in October 2011 and has helped build up the company’s digital and technology divisions, leading the acquisitions of Revision3 and DeFranco Creative, plus strategic investments in Lumosity and Learnist.

He and his team also launched digital/online networks Animalist and TestTube, and live online experiences such as Skywire Live and Animal Planet L!VE.

“JB is one of the smartest and most versatile executives I have worked with in the media business,” said Discovery president David Zaslav, whose contract was recently extended to 2020. “Since his time at NBC as a leader in business development, distribution and digital to all the success and value he has built at Discovery, JB has it all – strong strategic vision, operational expertise and exceptional team-building skills.”

Perrette will oversee the company’s international business, a role Hollinger relinquished last year, with current regional and functional leaders now reporting to him.

These execs include Dee Forbes, president and MD, Discovery Networks Western Europe; Kasia Kieli, president and MD, Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa; Henrik Ravn, president and CEO, SBS Discovery Media Nordics; Henry Martinez, president and MD, Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic; Arjan Hoekstra, president and MD, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific; Doug Baker, exec VP and CFO, DNI; Luis Silberwasser, exec VP and chief content officer, DNI; Tom Keaveny, president, International Affiliate Sales; and John Honeycutt, exec VP and COO, DNI.

“This is a demanding role like no other, which I believe requires a corporate executive with a broad background to oversee all aspects of the business across 220 countries,” Zaslav continued. “Having spent half his career internationally, and with a unique mix of distribution, digital, strategy and business development experience, JB is the perfect fit to lead Discovery’s international operations.”

Sean Atkins will serve as acting head of Discovery’s digital business while the company begins the search for its next permanent chief digital officer.

Prior to joining Discovery, Perrette spent 11 years with NBCU, latterly as president of digital and affiliate distribution and content distribution strategy. He helped launch new digital net Sleuth (now Cloo), Chiller and Universal HD and played a leadership role in developing Hulu.

Discovery’s international business has been growing rapidly over the past few years, in particular the 2013 acquisition of SBS Nordics and a 20% stake in Eurosport. The firm was recently said to be in talks over a potential buy-out of Scripps Networks Interactive, but with those discussions now having reportedly broken down, international is once again top of the agenda.