Discovery names western Europe affiliate sales chief

Mertijn De Nooijer

Mertijn De Nooijer will head up affiliate sales for Discovery across western Europe after being given a new role at the channel operator.

De Nooijer has been running Discovery’s affiliate business in the Benelux region. He moves into the new role after Discovery merged its channel distribution teams across the Discovery channels and Eurosport businesses, having taken full control of Eurosport earlier this year.

De Nooijer will now manage a 29-channel portfolio across Western Europe, overseeing carriage negotiations with operators across the region. He will continue to run the affiliate business in the Benelux.

He will report to Dee Forbes, president and managing director, Discovery Networks Western Europe. She said: “Mertijn is a strong business executive with the right commercial acumen to help us strengthen our distribution business across all our markets.  He also worked previously at Eurosport, so will be able to utilise his substantial experience of both organisations.”