Louwerens to head Talpa’s Dutch nets

John De Mol’s Talpa Network in the Netherlands has appointed a former RTL Nederlend exec as its new director of television following Karin de Groot’s move to ITV Studios Netherlands.

Marco Louwerens

Marco Louwerens starts today, overseeing programming for local networks SBS6, Net5, Veronica and SBS9.

The position had been held by de Groot from June 2017 until October last year when she left to help ITV Studios set up its Dutch hub as MD.

Working with strategic adviser Erland Galjaard, Louwerens’ mission will be to strengthen the broadcast network and integrate content across channels and platforms.

He started his career as a director and reporter at various production companies and broadcasters, including AT5, TROS and VARA.

From 2007 to March 2018 he worked at RTL Nederland, where from 2009 he held positions in the company’s channel management. From 2011 up to and including March 2018, he was MD of RTL 7 and RTL Z.

De Mol said: “Marco has proven in his career that he understands very well what different viewer groups want to see and how to build stations for these groups. I am glad that we can add our experience to our sender teams and use them for the Talpa Network plans”.