Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz to lead WBD’s streaming and linear business in Turkey
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has appointed Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz as VP of local original productions, local channels and streaming operations lead for Turkey.
Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz
Şaşmaz Oflaz, who has served as CEO of WBD’s streaming platform BluTV since January 2023, will continue to lead BluTV while taking on new responsibilities, including managing the company’s linear channels, such as TLC and DMAX, in Turkey.
In her expanded role, she will oversee both the streaming and linear TV businesses in the region and continue to lead the development and production of local content.
As part of overseeing channel management for TLC and DMAX, Şaşmaz Oflaz will also supervise the local programming and scheduling teams for these brands.
WBD said the appointment underscores its commitment to strengthening its presence in Turkey and further integrating WBD’s and BluTV’s businesses. This follows WBD’s acquisition of local streamer BluTV last year.
The responsibly for networks was previously held by Grigory Lavrov, VP of marketing, local brands and franchise management Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT).
Lavrov, who has led these channels since 2020, will maintain the leadership of the trade marketing teams across CEE and MENAT and take on new responsibilities outside of Turkey, WBD said.
Before taking on the role as CEO BluTV, Şaşmaz Oflaz held several key roles within the company, including content and commercial director, content director, and content acquisition consultant, starting from 2016.
Şaşmaz Oflaz has previously worked at the independent distribution company Rfilm and later joined Canal+ in content acquisition. Upon returning to Turkey, she held the position of acquisition and sales manager at Rfilm and as sales manager at Medyavizyon and MB.
In these roles she was responsible for the licensing of 20th Century Fox films and managing the distribution of independent films across the company’s catalogue for both television and cinema.
