S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a biweekly rundown of executive and board changes in the European media and communications industries.
TOP MOVES
* Vodafone Group PLC said that CFO Nick Read will assume the role of CEO, effective Oct. 1, replacing Vittorio Colao. Read will become the company's chief executive-designate on July 27. Deputy CFO Margherita Della Valle will assume the role of CFO and will become a member of the board on the same date.
* Iliad, parent company of Free, announced a new executive team including the appointment of Thomas Reynaud as CEO, Maxime Lombardini as the chairman of the board, and Nicolas Jaeger as CFO. The new governance will come into effect on May 21.
MEDIA INDUSTRY MOVES
* Radio France has appointed Guy Lagache executive director for Radio France Antennas and editorial strategy, effective June 25. Lagache will be tasked with editorial strategy and supporting the production of content adapted to new listening media.
* Arnaud Lagardére, general and managing partner of Lagardere SCA, confirmed the appointment of Laurent Guimier as CEO of radio station Europe 1, owned and operated by Lagardere unit Lagardere Active. Guimier will take up his functions on May 22, Le Figaro reported May 16.
* Modern Times Group appointed two new leadership team members as part of MTG's split into two companies, MTG and Nordic Entertainment Group. Peter Nørrelund has been appointed head of product development and incubation of the new MTG, while Johan Levinsson has been appointed group general counsel for MTG.
* AMC Networks Inc. unit AMC Networks International - Central and Northern Europe has appointed Marcel Mares as country manager for Czech Republic and Slovakia, Advanced Television reported May 14. Mares, who was previously the manager for sales, distribution and business development at Discovery Inc., will be in charge of overseeing sales and operations in the two countries.
* Discovery Inc. and Polish broadcaster TVN SA named Piotr Korycki as management board president and managing director, following the integration of their respective management structures in Poland, Broadband TV News reported May 9, citing Press.pl. Jim Samples, president of TVN's management board, has been transferred to the companies' supervisory board.
* German TV channel eoTV has expanded its management team with the addition of René Carl, responsible for production, documentary licensing and distribution; Ion Florescu, responsible for finance and funding, and former Constantin Film AG Director Matthias Peipp, who has been advising eoTV on issues of financing and program management for over two years.
COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY MOVES
* Uber Technologies Inc. has appointed Jamie Heywood, former director for Amazon.com Inc.'s U.K. operations, as the company's regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, The Irish Independent reported May 14. Heywood will begin in his new role next month.
* TDC A/S announced that President and CEO Pernille Erenbjerg will resign by the end of the year. In a statement, Erenbjerg said that she is leaving as the group's new owners are embarking on a new strategy and plan to split the company into different units. TDC will further change its board, according to a press release. On the suggestion of new owners DK Telekommunikation ApS, the majority of board members steps down, to be replaced by five new members, with Mike Parton as temporary chair.
* Marnix Laurs will step down as director of content at KPN NV, effective June 1, Broadcasting Magazine reported. Laurs will reportedly become director of procurement value at KPN, while Thera van Steveninck will take his previous role.
