New CEO for Premiere

MUNICH, September 11: News
Corporation’s Mark Williams has been appointed to succeed Michael
Börnicke as CEO of Premiere following his sudden resignation for “personal
reasons.”

Börnicke has resigned with
immediate effect after being released from his contract. His successor, Mark
Williams, is currently chief financial officer for Europe and Asia at News
Corporation as well as non-executive director on the board of SKY Italia. He
has also been a Supervisory Board member at Premiere. News Corp. owns about 25
percent of the German pay-TV giant.

“For personal reasons, I
have decided to resign as CEO of Premiere,” Börnicke said. “In the last months,
the management has set the course to get Premiere back to a long-term,
sustained growth development.”

Williams stated: “I am
pleased to accept the new responsibility as CEO of Premiere, which came
unexpectedly. I am looking forward to working with the management team to
ensure the success of Premiere. I am convinced of the great potential of pay-TV
in Germany. I know this view is shared by News Corporation.”

To read the extensive
interview Börnicke granted to World Screen earlier this summer, click here.

—By Mansha Daswani