Management Changes at Alpha Media

LUXEMBOURG/ATHENS: Christoph Mainusch, who currently heads up RTL Televizija in Croatia, has been tapped as the new CEO of Alpha Media Group, the Greek company in which RTL Group owns a 66.6 percent stake, effective this September.

Mainusch will succeed Rick Spinner, who has been the CEO of the Greek company since RTL Group acquired its majority stake in December 2008. Spinner will return to working for RTL Group in a consultative capacity.

Alpha Media consists of the national TV channel Alpha TV, the regional TV channel Kanali 9 Thessaloniki, the radio stations Alpha 98.9 and Palmos 96.5 and the production outfit Plus Productions.

Announcing the reshuffle, Gerhard Zeiler, the CEO of RTL Group, said: “RTL Group is grateful to Rick Spinner for taking over the management of our newly acquired subsidiary Alpha Media Group in a very tough economic environment and quickly laying the foundation for a positive strategic realignment. Rick immediately initiated a comprehensive business review and has successfully begun the process of repositioning Alpha TV as a general-interest channel catering for younger audiences.”

He continued: “In the past five years, Christoph developed RTL Televizija from scratch into Croatia’s leading commercial broadcaster. He has a proven track record when it comes to introducing innovative formats and new ways of scheduling in a highly competitive market, and is an expert at combining audience success with sustainable financial results.”