Jamie Cooke appointed GM CEE & MEA at Discovery

Discovery streamlines its EMEA operation, the new organization will accelerate digital transformation by driving efficiencies and enabling new investments. Discovery aligns several of its operating markets in EMEA to improve strategic focus and enable further investment in its D2C businesses.

“We are working systematically to rationalize our operation and find synergies and efficiencies across our EMEA business. We have come a long way over the years and with this restructuring we have defined a clear path towards a leaner operating model, where we utilize the best competence across markets. By combining knowhow and leveraging our scale, we will be able to streamline decision making and operate with greater speed and focus towards future business opportunities”, says Kasia Kieli, President and Managing Director of EMEA.

In the new EMEA operation Jamie Cooke is appointed GM CEE & MEA (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa). Cooke comes from the role of SVP Chief of Staff EMEA. In the same time, James Gibbons’ portfolio is realigned to encompass the Nordic markets in addition to the UK markets, and Gibbons becomes GM for UK & Nordics. The Nordic markets will be unified under the leadership of Nicklas Norrby. Norrby has been in charge of the Swedish business since 2019 and will now report directly to James Gibbons. Benelux will be unified with Germany under the leadership of GM Germany & Benelux Susanne Aigner, while Spain and France will be unified under the leadership of GM Iberia & France, Antonio Ruiz. Leah Hooper will be taking the role of SVP D2C Growth & Strategy International, and Espen Skoland is named SVP Communications for EMEA.

CEO of TVN, Piotr Korycki has announced his departure from Discovery. He will not be replaced as Kasia Kieli, President and MD of EMEA, will take a leadership role of the Polish television network herself.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to thank the former GMs Piotr Korycki, Alco De Jong, Laurent Prud’homme, and Amanda Turnbull for their hard work. I wish them all the best on any future endeavors”, added Kasia Kieli.

The CEEMCA (Central and Eastern Europe, Mediterranean, Central Asia) business will be combined with the Russian one, Middle East & Africa business and our Pay TV Channel team – Jamie Cooke will continue to cover for Victoria Davies (SVP, GM Discovery CEEMCA) during her maternity leave.