WarnerMedia announces Nordic, CEE, Middle East, Turkey and Africa team under Pierre Branco

WarnerMedia has announced the leadership of its new Nordic, CEE, Middle East, Turkey and Africa team.

Under Pierre Branco, who was recently named as the country manager for the regions and head of WarnerMedia EMEA affiliate and ad sales, the new team brings together WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks (comprising the legacy Turner and HBO businesses) with Warner Bros. (Theatrical, Consumer Products, TV & Digital distribution, Home Entertainment). The company said that this will “ensure a one WarnerMedia approach in a diverse range of geographies” and that it will deliver an integrated EMEA approach to distribution.

The new team unites experienced execs Jesper Steenberg, Matthias Heinze, Guillaume Coffin, Rita Akkari, Roni Patel and Johan Mannerhill.

Steenberg, who currently oversees the HBO distribution in Europe, will now lead the business development, digital distribution and trade marketing for WarnerMedia’s services in EMEA working closely with the local affiliate teams. He will also continue to oversee the Nordic affiliates business.

Heinze, current head of commercial operations for Turner and CEE, will add the Affiliates and Ad Sales businesses in GAS and Central and Eastern Europe to his remit while also becoming general manager for WarnerMedia Poland. Coffin meanwhile will see his current role of managing Turner’s affiliates and ad sales for France and Africa, will manage Benelux, Greece, the Middle East and Turkey, while also becoming general manager for Warner’s Turkish business.

Both will work closely with WarnerMedia’s France, Benelux and GAS country manager Iris Knobloch.

The final changed role is for Rita Akkari, current manager of distribution of WarnerMedia content in CEE and Russia, as head of a new TV and digital distribution group.

Roni Patel will continue to lead the distribution of Warner Bros., Turner, HBO, and HBO Max content to TV, SVOD and AVOD players for Benelux, the Middle East and Nordic; while Johan Mannerhill will continue to lead WarnerMedia Home Entertainment’s business in the Nordics with responsibility for all physical and digital video and games distribution.

Of the newly assembled team, Pierre Branco said: “This exceptional group of executives will leverage our combined scale to tap into synergies through a single ‘one WarnerMedia’ lens and enrich the consumer offering across the full breadth of our brands, businesses and platforms.

“They will foster a more holistic approach to our ad sales and distribution strategies at the EMEA regional level, in close coordination with fellow Country Managers across EMEA, and working closely with the HBO Max team as we prepare for its arrival in due course in our markets. Their smart business acumen, commitment to new ways of thinking, and deep connection to our brands will be a huge asset as we move forward.”