Markus Breitenecker Joins ProSiebenSat.1 Executive Board

Markus Breitenecker is joining the executive board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media and becomes chief operating officer, while Christine Scheffler exits.

Breitenecker is currently CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 PULS4. Together with CEO Bert Habets, Breitenecker will take over the management of the entertainment segment as COO. He will focus on streaming and digital platforms and will also be responsible for country activities in Switzerland and Austria.

Andreas Wiele, chairman of the supervisory board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, said: “Markus Breitenecker is a proven TV and streaming expert and has been extremely successful in the company for 25 years. He built up the broadcasting group in Austria and most recently developed Joyn Austria into the market leader within just one year. Under the leadership of Bert Habets, the two will now work together to implement the successfully introduced entertainment strategy even more consistently and quickly.”

Breitenecker said: “I would like to thank the supervisory board for its trust. Streaming—and Joyn in particular—is at the heart of our entertainment business. I look forward to working more closely with Bert Habets and to further expanding Joyn with this great team and developing it into one of the leading streaming players in the DACH region.”

Habets added: “I know and appreciate Markus Breitenecker as a very committed and experienced media manager with a passion for entertainment. I look forward to driving and developing the business together with him.”

Scheffler, who has been with the company for more than five years, leaves ProSiebenSat.1 “on the best of terms.”

Wiele said: “With Christine Scheffler, we are losing a very experienced transformer and a valued colleague on the Executive Board. We would like to thank Christine Scheffler for her highly professional HR work, her innovative spirit, and her passion for our approximately 7,000 employees worldwide. On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, we wish her all the best for the future and continued success.”

Scheffler commented: “ProSiebenSat.1 stands for dynamism and change. Thanks to a great team, we have successfully implemented essential projects together over the last few years and thus made an important contribution to the modernization and realignment of this great Group. Last year, we set the course for ProSiebenSat.1’s next development steps with an extensive transformation and personnel restructuring program. I would like to thank my colleagues for the intensive and eventful years together.”

Habets said: “I regret Christine Scheffler’s decision, but I am grateful for the pleasant and cooperative collaboration over the past two years. It has been an intense journey and I thank her for her support and for her contribution to the transformation of the group. I wish her, on behalf of the executive board, all the best for her future.”