MTG’s Skogeng joins in TVBeat

Modern Times Group (MTG) exec Rune Skogeng is stepping down from the Sweden-based firm to join TVBeat, a UK start-up that provides real-time television ratings.

Skogeng will join the London-based firm as VP of business development in the Nordics and Benelux in August, following a 10-year stint at MTG.

After working with the group’s IPTV and cable TV operations across Norway and Sweden, he managed MTG’s operations in Ghana as CEO, creating free TV company Viasat 1 in the country from scratch.

He then took the position of chief operating officer for all MTG’s operations across Africa, and was responsible for launching a second free TV station, TV1, this time in Tanzania.

TVBeat’s CEO, Laurence Miall-d’Août, described Skogeng as a major asset for the company.

“Scandinavia already has a well-earned reputation for being forward-thinking when it comes to technology and media – it’s the birthplace of some of the decade’s most innovative projects,” she said. “We’re very excited to be expanding into this new market and, with Rune’s wealth of experience, there’s no one better to do this.”

Meanwhile, Sky financial analyst Thomas Burnell-Nugent has joined TVBeat as business and finance controller.

Last month, Croatia’s largest pay TV platform Hrvatski Telekom became the first company to team up with TVBeat.

In April, TV industry veteran Tom Toumazis, who spent time as chief commercial officer at production giant Endemol, became chairman of TVBeat’s board.