Corral exits Turner as Ondarza gets new role

Domingo Corral is exiting Turner Broadcasting System EMEA, as the firm’s regional restructuring moves a step further.

The exec, who had been with Turner’s Spanish arm for 15 years – most recently as SVP and managing director for Spain and Portugal, will leave to “pursue new opportunities”, with Jaime Ondarza promoted to replace him.

Ondarza, who has been with Turner since 2000, has been handed a new role as senior VP, Southern Europe and Africa.

He concurrently drops his role at the top of the UK and Ireland business, which will now be folded into a new Northern Europe divi sion also comprising the Baltics and Nordics.
Leadership for that unit will be unveiled soon, with UK VP and GM Anthony Lukom and Nordics VP and GM Bo Ostergaard reporting into Turner EMEA president Girogio Stock in the interim.

Meanwhile, Pierre Branco has been promoted to VP, Southern Europe and Africa ang general manager, France and Portugal. He will report to Ondarza,and have responsibility for all French speaking territories in the region, as well as Portugal, Angola and Mozambique.

Ondarza, meanwhile, will report to Stock, who initiated a major EMEA-wide restructuring in 2012 after joining from The Walt Disney Company.

The restructure has led to major departues but Stock said today: “The new territory alignment around Southern Europe and Africa will allow us to leverage competencies and invest in products and services that will greatly benefit from joined up resources and planning. Through this alignment we expect continuity, improved efficiencies and a greater coherence in editorial and brand strategy allowing us to focus on super serving local audiences.”

He called Ondarza “the natural choice for this regional division, as he combines entrepreneurship and a deep understanding of our channel[s] business”.

“Pierre Branco’s promotion similarly reflects our desire to build on our strong talent in the region and push on aggressive development of our branded products and services across territories,” he added.

Stock also paid tribute to Corral, saying: “His legacy is one of the best and most talented teams in Europe and he leaves behind a great line-up of successful channels and brands including TNT, Boing, CNN and TCM in Spain and our recently launched local language Cartoon Network in Portugal.”

Corral said: “I am very grateful for the time I have had at Turner, and for the support I’ve always received from my team, many great colleagues and business partners. I am also pleased to see that Jaime Ondarza, one of the best leaders I have ever met, will take on the Spanish business. I have no doubt that under his leadership Turner will be in a very strong position to meet future challenges”.

Giovanni Parenti, TBS EMEA’s VP and GM for Italy will continue to report to Ondarza.

Tal Hewitt will continue to report into Rani Raad in her role as GM for Turkey, the Middle East and Africa but will now work closely with Ondarza and Branco on African strategy.

Senior VP Hannes Heyelmann will continue to oversee German-speaking territories, Benelux, the CEE and Russia. He will report to Stock.