Discovery Networks Western Europe has announced that Mertijn de Nooijer who heads up Discovery’s affiliate business in Benelux is taking on a new role as VP affiliate, Western Europe.
De Nooijer will be reporting into Dee Forbes, president and managing director of Discovery Networks Western Europe. The move follows a decision to combine the distribution teams across Eurosport and Discovery’s Western Europe business.
In this newly created role, Mertijn will work closely with the sales and management teams across Western Europe to leverage its strong portfolio of 29 Discovery and Eurosport channels brands with affiliate partners across the region. The combined portfolio includes Discovery Channel, TLC, ID, Animal Planet and Eurosport, the #1 pan-European sports channel.
Mertijn will also continue in his existing affiliate role in the Benelux market.
Dee Forbes said: “Mertijn is a strong business executive with the right commercial acumen to help us strengthen our distribution business across all our markets. He also worked previously at Eurosport, so will be able to utilise his substantial experience of both organisations.
“We have been very focused on building scale across Western Europe by strengthening our existing portfolio of channels, launching new brands and acquiring new networks such as Switchover Media in Italy. With the addition of Eurosport, we now have access to sports programming which gives us an exciting new pipeline of content, and a genre which many see as the ultimate in live factual entertainment. Mertijn will help us leverage this portfolio across all our markets and add even greater value to our partners.”
Mertijn De Nooijer, VP Affiliate, Western Europe, said: “It is an exciting time to be part of the Western Europe business and to help it fulfil its growth plans further. The combined Discovery and Eurosport portfolio has an unrivalled footprint across Western Europe. We will focus on creating new value for affiliates, advertisers and audiences alike.”
