Sky marketing chief to become UK, Eire CEO

Stephen van Rooyen

European satellite broadcaster Sky is set to name Stephen van Rooyen as CEO of its UK and Ireland unit.

Van Rooyen is currently chief marketing and digital officer at the 21st Century Fox-backed pay TV provider, but is being upped.

Sky is yet to officially comment, but the news leaked on a panel session at The Guardian Changing Media Summit in London, in which Facebook VP, EMEA Nicola Mendelsohn revealed the promotion.

Questioned on his new post, van Rooyen said: “Chief exec.”

It is understood that the promotion comes as part of a changing senior management structure implemented following the merger of the Sky businesses in the UK and Ireland, Germany and Austria, and Italy.

Van Rooyen has been with Sky for a decade, initially joining from Virgin Media as director, product management. He has also worked at News International and financial consultancy Accenture in Australia and the UK.

The former Sky UK and Ireland CEO, Jeremy Darroch, now runs the wider Sky business, which also comprises Germany, Austria and Italy. Van Rooyen will continue to report into Darroch.

The news comes soon after Sky UK CFO Andrew Griffith added a group COO role to his responsibilities, and two months after 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch returned to his post as chairman of the wider Sky business.

Sky declined to comment.