Discovery has announced an update to the senior management team of Eurosport follwoing the departure of CEO Peter Hutton (pictured), senior VP content and production, Arnaud Simon, and VP Olympic relations, Geraldine Filiol.
It sees Emir Osmanbegovic appointed senior VP, sports content and production; Dave Schafer assume the role of senior VP, sports operations and planning; and Laurent Prud’homme, senior VP, take on an expanded role that will now include additional responsibility for IOC and media services, and interim oversight of Eurosport’s events business, as well as continuing to oversee its rights acquisition and syndication groups, including the Olympics.
Schafer, who has already directed the planning and operational delivery of the company’s inaugural Olympic Games, will now lead all sports operations activities across the Olympics and Eurosport’s year-round calendar of premium live sports events. Both he and Osmanbegovic will re-locate to Eurosport in Paris.
Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International, said: “As the first record-breaking chapter of our Olympic journey is complete, it’s proven to be an opportune time to reconsider our leadership and organisation with the goal of continuing to improve and grow the Eurosport business and brand. While the Olympics is a key part of Eurosport’s offering, one of our greatest strengths is that we showcase Olympic sports all-year round and these appointments will help usher in another great phase of growth for Eurosport.
“Emir and Dave, two world class sports leaders, will re-locate to Paris and bring a fresh perspective on how we maximise the value of our unique combination of talented central or Paris-based resources and local experts based in the markets. I am delighted to welcome them into their new roles. Laurent Prud’homme is also a fantastic and respected industry leader who knows the Eurosport brand inside out and will play an integral rights and commercial development role as we look to continue to develop Discovery’s premium sports brand.”
Discovery has also confirmed the upcoming departure of CEO Peter Hutton, while senior VP content and production, Arnaud Simon, and VP Olympic relations, Geraldine Filiol, will also depart the company to pursue other opportunities.
JB Perrette added: “I would like to thank Peter, Arnaud and Geraldine for their great partnership and commitment to help Eurosport transform into a more premium sports brand, culminating in Eurosport delivering its first Olympic Games to millions of fans across Europe.”
Discovery and Eurosport have launched an external search to fill the vacant CEO role. In the interim, the Eurosport leadership team will report directly to Perrette.
