German media company ProSiebenSat.1 has appointed Max Conze as its new CEO effective June 1, 2018.
The 48-year-old German will succeed the long-time ProSiebenSat.1 CEO Thomas Ebeling (59) who will leave the company on February 22, 2018 after the announcement of the financial figures for 2017. Until Conze will take up his post, Conrad Albert (50), deputy CEO of ProSiebenSat.1, will serve as interim chairman from February 23 to May 31, 2018.
Conze who has not previously worked in the media industry was CEO of British technology group Dyson from 2011 to 2017. He left the company following a legal dispute over allegations that he disclosed secret company information and used the firm’s resources to his benefit. Conze denied the allegations and said Dyson was trying to distract attention away from claims that he was looking to issue against the firm. Prior to Dyson, Conze spent 17 years working for American consumer goods corporation Procter & Gamble in various management and marketing positions in Germany, the US, China and Switzerland.
Dr. Werner Brandt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1, said: “Max Conze has extensive international management experience in various industries. He also successfully implemented the digital transformation at Dyson, turning the company into a rapidly expanding global technology corporation. With his innovative power and marketing expertise, he will take ProSiebenSat.1 to new heights. The Supervisory Board wishes Max Conze every success in his role and looks forward to working with him. I also want to thank Conrad Albert for managing the company until this summer and especially continuing to advance the reorganization of ProSiebenSat.1 as part of our three-pillar strategy during that time.”
“Thomas Ebeling has achieved tremendous success for ProSiebenSat.1 Group. Under his leadership, ProSiebenSat.1 revenues increased nearly 50% and the market capitalisation has multiplied from around €300 million when he joined to over €7 billion. With his innovative drive, Thomas Ebeling led the company into the DAX. We owe him our gratitude for his outstanding achievements.”
Max Conze said: “Entertainment has always excited me. The digital transformation of this industry combined with the commerce business makes ProSiebenSat.1 unique. Together with my fellow executive board members and all of the ProSiebenSat.1 team, I look forward to bringing all my energy to shape the future of ProSiebenSat.1 behind its three-pillar-strategy: entertainment, content production, commerce.”
