Hannes Heyelmann latest senior exec to leave Warner Bros Discovery EMEA
Hannes Heyelmann, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD)’s exec VP and general manager (GM) for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, is leaving the company.
Hannes Heyelmann
Heyelmann, who took up the role last summer and put together his senior team soon after, is staying on until October while decisions about leadership in the region are made, according to Gerhard Zeiler, WBD’s international president, who announced the news in a memo to staff this morning.
Heyelmann originally joined Turner in Atlanta and rose to senior VP and MD for Central and Eastern Europe and international original programming strategy, and later exec VP of programming in EMEA at WarnerMedia.
Zeiler said: “When we launched the newly merged WBD in April last year we did so with the ambition to be a top global entertainment company and we are making good progress towards our goals. In reviewing our plans for EMEA, Hannes Heyelmann has advised me of his decision to resign.
“I am extremely grateful to Hannes for his contribution and leadership in one of our most important, complex and exciting regions, which as you know, is close to my heart. And while it is always sad to say goodbye to highly talented and well-loved colleagues, I am thankful for the journey we have been on together.
“Reaching over 20 years in this business and being so successful in a variety of roles is an incredible achievement. I would like to offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to Hannes for the impact he has made, and I know you will all join me in wishing Hannes all the very best for the future.”
Heyelmann added: “It has been a great privilege to be part of WBD for the past 22 years. I have many wonderful memories from the different roles I have held, starting in the corporate strategy team in the US, launching pay networks from scratch in Germany and pushing local productions, overseeing the EMEA network and streaming programming strategy and most recently as the GM for WBD in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.”
It is the latest upheaval in Zeiler’s team following the departure of Priya Dogra, president and MD for EMEA at WBD, after 14 years with the company in its various guises.
