Sky’s Sullivan moves to Fox

Outgoing Sky Deutschland CEO Brian Sullivan is leaving the German broadcaster to take up a senior position at 21st Century Fox, according to reports.

Sullivan: Unspecified role

Sullivan’s exit was revealed yesterday and Reuters has today reported that he will move to an unspecified role in LA, where he will report to Fox Networks Group chairman Peter Rice.

Sullivan, who is stepping down on June 24, is being replaced by Carsten Schmidt, currently Sky Deutschland’s chief officer of sports, advertising sales and internet. Schmidt will become deputy chief executive with immediate effect and succeed Sullivan as CEO after a handover period.

Sullivan took over at the German firm in 2010, increasing subscriber numbers from 2.1m when he started to more than four million at the end of 2014. He has also expanded its high-profile drama output with Babylon Berlin, a coproduction with ARD.

Schmidt has served on Sky Deutschland’s management board since 2006, after joining the company in 1999. His responsibilities include sports programming and rights acquisition, online activities and advertising sales.

Sullivan’s exit follows the takeover by BSkyB of Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia late last year. Gary Davey, Sky Deutschland’s programming chief, was brought in as MD across the group, replacing Sophie Turner Laing who joined Endemol Shine. Darroch, previously BSkyB chief, was promoted to group CEO.