CME Media Enterprises (CME) has closed the acquisition of RTL Croatia.
Commenting on the development, Didier Stoessel, CME CEO for Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, said: “We are very excited to welcome RTL Croatia to the CME family and expand our footprint in the Adriatic region, which offers exceptional growth potential. Our loyal viewers can expect increased local content productions, improved digital offerings, and a continued dedication to pluralistic and high-quality journalism”.
CME says that thanks to an anticipated close cooperation between RTL Croatia and Pro Plus in Slovenia, CME predicts a number of operational synergies in areas such as digitalisation and content. With this ambition in mind, there will be several changes to the management and governance structures of RTL Croatia.
Effective immediately, Tonko Weissmann has become the new executive VP – Croatian Operations of RTL Croatia.
He has been with the organisation since 2005 and held a number of important legal and commercial positions. His appointment offers RTL Croatia continuity and stability during the important transition phase and management of future growth through improved content and digitalisation.
Meanwhile, Branko Cakarmis, the current CEO of Pro Plus, will become the president of the RTL Croatia management board and CEO – Adriatic Region. He is a pioneer in television content production and as CEO of Pro Plus, has successfully advanced the organisation’s content and digital agenda. He will hold a dual position and will continue to execute his position of CEO of Pro Plus while acting as president of the RTL Croatia management board.
Christoph Mainusch has been appointed as president of the supervisory board of RTL Croatia and will offer his deep knowledge of the broadcasting industry to RTL Croatia in this oversight role. Given the new management structure and by mutual agreement, Marc Puskaric, RTL Croatia’s CEO, will depart the organisation effective immediately.
Stoessel added: “This new management structure reflects our intention to take the best that RTL Croatia has to offer and together with Pro Plus, take it to a new level”.
As previously reported by Broadband TV News, in February this year RTL Group agreed to sell 100% of its Croatian operation to PPF Group’s subsidiary CME for €50 million.
