Zbigniew Pruski has been appointed the commercial director for branded services, Central and Eastern Europe, BBC Studios.
At the same time, Pierre Cloete will take on the same role for sub-Saharan Africa. According to BBC Studios, the appointments follow the recent reorganisation of CEMA from general market management to a focus on specialist lines of business.
Both roles will report into Louise La Grange, SVP branded services commercial and will be responsible for delivering branded services revenue and profit across CEE and sub-Saharan Africa, in line with targets and growth ambitions and through expert client management and new business development.
Pruski, who will be based in Warsaw, takes up this new and expanded position for the region after a successful tenure as head of affiliate sales for BBC Studios in Poland, where he was responsible for developing strategic distribution initiatives for the BBC channel portfolio.
He joined BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide) in 2011 from Discovery Networks Central Europe where he was affiliate sales administration executive.
He began his TV career at distribution and management agency Program as the key account manager for broadcasters such as CNBC Europe, BBC Worldwide and NGC.
Commenting on the two appointments, Louise La Grange, said: “The appointments of commercial directors for sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Eastern Europe signals our on-going commitment to the African and CEE markets and a continued local presence on the ground. Pierre and Zbigniew have proven track records in the industry and I am confident that their local insight, expertise, and great relationships will give us the focus, consistency, and effectiveness we need to put us in the best position to achieve our ambitions for growth.”