Maarten Meijs to lead Talpa group as CEO of broadcast arm steps down  

Maarten Meijs will be the new Talpa Studios and Talpa Network CEO

John de Mol’s Talpa Studios and Talpa Network have shaken up their leadership structure, with Maarten Meijs becoming CEO of the group and Talpa Network CEO Joost Brakel stepping down.

From March 2, Talpa Studios’ CEO Meijs will lead the group-wide management board, overseeing strategy and long-term development across both Talpa Studios and Talpa Network.

The shake-up will see Brakel step down from his role as CEO of Talpa Network, which he has held since early 2024, following a transition period.

It comes as the Talpa Studios and Talpa Network teams are set to be brought together under one roof in the Talpa building in Hilversum at the end of March.

The two will continue to operate independently, each with their own management and creative responsibilities, according to Talpa.

Joost Brakel

Talpa Studios is the developer behind formats such as The Floor, The Quiz With Balls, The Tribute: Battle of the Bands and Caught in the Middle, while Talpa Network owns various television, radio and digital assets, including SBS6, NET5, Veronica and KIJK.

The two are separate to Talpa Media, the production company behind The Voice founded by de Mol that was bought by ITV in 2015 and subsequently folded into ITV Studios Netherlands.

Meijs, a former chief operating officer at Talpa Media, went on to serve as president of global entertainment at ITV Studios between 2020 and 2022, before being poached by de Mol once he had set up Talpa Studios after exiting ITV Studios in 2019.

The group-wide management board will be made up of CEO Meijs, who will work with chief financial officer Guy Vossen, chief operating officer Barry Masclee and chief human resources officer Carlijn Oosterik.

Meijs said: “By aligning our leadership at group level, we build on a strong foundation while creating greater clarity and focus – fully respecting the independence of our individual companies.

“This allows us to move faster, make bolder choices and further strengthen our creative and international impact. The Netherlands remains a powerful springboard for new ideas, where great ideas can evolve into globally successful formats.”