RTL Group and Dimitris Contominas, the current owner of Alpha Media Group, have announced that the Greek Competition Commission has approved RTL Group’s acquisition of a 66.6% majority stake in Alpha Media Group.
Rick Spinner will be appointed the new CEO of Alpha Media Group, effective upon closing. He will also become a member of the board of directors of Alpha Media Group. The parties’ agreement on the transaction was previously announced on September 23, 2008, and it is the intention to close the transaction before Christmas.
Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of RTL Group, said in a statement: “Rick Spinner has been working as consultant and on-site troubleshooter for RTL Group in various countries in the past. He is hands-on and most experienced in leading TV companies in the US as well as in Europe. He is a great choice to lead Alpha Media Group through the challenging time ahead.”
Dimitris Contominas, who will become the chairman of the Alpha Media Group board of directors, added: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Rick Spinner to Alpha Media Group. His extensive knowledge of the broadcasting industry will be a great asset for Alpha Media Group.”
Rick Spinner is a US citizen and has been in the senior management of ABC for many years. From 1993 to 1997 he served as president, European Operations, Capital Cities-ABC-Television. From 1999 onwards, he worked for RTL Group in Belgium, Croatia, Germany, The Netherlands and in Russia. Beyond that, he has been advisor for TVA Brazil, worked for Triangle Publications and founded Capacities International Broadcast Management.
