WarnerMedia Veteran Iris Knobloch to Depart

Iris Knobloch, the president of France, Benelux, Germany, Austria and Switzerland at WarnerMedia, has decided to leave the company after 25 years in senior leadership roles to pursue a new challenge.

Knobloch was responsible for the development and execution of WarnerMedia’s strategy and optimizing all commercial and group marketing activities across the region. Her remit has included theatrical distribution, local theatrical productions, content licensing, home entertainment and consumer products, as well as ad sales and affiliate distribution for the WarnerMedia channels.

Previously, Knobloch served as the president of Warner Bros. Entertainment France and Benelux, a role she held from 2006. Prior to this, Knobloch served as senior VP of Time Warner, in charge of International Relations and Strategic Policy for Europe, and since joining the company in 1996 worked in several senior positions in Warner Bros.’ offices in Los Angeles, London and Paris.

Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, said: “Iris is one of the most respected international executives in the industry. We are incredibly grateful to Iris for her many contributions to WarnerMedia and her exceptional leadership over 25 years. She has been an integral part of WarnerMedia and Warner Bros., driving growth and innovation and building the company’s presence across multiple markets to a position of strength. She leaves behind a driven and accomplished team that will no doubt continue her legacy. I personally would like to thank Iris for her friendship and partnership. I respect her decision that now is the time for her to take on new challenges and, together with all our colleagues across the company, wish her the very best.”

Knobloch said: “The company has given me the opportunity for an amazing career spanning strategic roles in various countries and continents and accompanying significant technological transformations from DVD to digital downloads to streaming, while also allowing me to contribute to important creative successes like the multiple Oscar-winning movie The Artist, so the decision to leave has not been easy. I feel incredibly lucky to have been surrounded by colleagues who share my passion for our industry and our audiences, and I am immensely proud of the business we have built together. I am so grateful to my team and my colleagues at WarnerMedia and wish them all the best for the future.”