New Festival Director for Rose d’Or

LUCERNE: Rolf Probala has been named festival director for Rose d’Or, taking over from Urban Frye, who leaves the post after three years.

The Rose d’Or will continue to be overseen by the advisory board, chaired by BBC trustee David Liddiment, with its president, John Gough, and will receive operational support from the existing core team, including Nora Kradolfer, Séghira Farhi and Dina Bänninger. Bänninger will continue to act as competition manager for the international competition.

Probala worked for Swiss television for nine years, most recently as head of the Tagesschau news program, before joining ETH Zurich as head of communications. In 2008, he managed the 175-year anniversary for Ringier with more than 30 large events in ten countries. In the last two years, Probala has built a group-wide academy for Ringier.

A statement from Rose d’Or about outgoing festival director Frye said: "The board of directors of Rose d’Or thanks Urban Frye for his deep commitment and his efforts and wishes him all the best for his future career and his next projects."

The 50th edition of the Rose d’Or Festival will run from September 18 to 22, 2010.