New CEO for HBO Europe

BUDAPEST: Linda Jensen, the CEO of HBO Europe, is exiting the company at the end of the year, with the post to be taken over by Hervé Payan.

Payan is currently the CEO of HBO Nordic. As of January 1, 2015, Payan will become the CEO of HBO Europe, consolidating HBO Nordic, HBO Netherlands and HBO Europe under one umbrella. 

Line Mykland, the COO and executive VP for Nordics; Ondrej Zach, the COO and executive VP for Central Europe; Antony Root, the executive VP of original programming and production for HBO Europe; Christina Sulebakk, the executive VP of marketing for HBO Europe; Gordon Finlayson, general counsel for HBO Europe; and Szilveszter Palvolgyi, the CFO of HBO Europe, will all report directly to Payan.

Bernadette Aulestia, the executive VP of global distribution operations at HBO Europe, said: "When Linda informed us she would be leaving we took an assessment of our European operations and decided that to be most effective we should consolidate them under one venture. Linda was a significant, strategic voice in this reorganization and we thank her for that and all she has done. 

“Hervé has extensive experience, not only at HBO Nordic, but across Europe where he held a variety of senior positions. He is the perfect executive to lead this new structure into what will be a very exciting and dynamic future.”

Jensen commented: “I had eleven great years at HBO and I am so proud of the success we achieved. I leave the company in the hands of such a talented team and under this new structure they will take HBO to new heights.”

Payan remarked: “This reorganization brings together a wealth of exceptional abilities and experience. The European television business is evolving quickly and we will be well positioned to take advantage of all opportunities that emerge.”