New VP of Affiliate for Discovery Networks Western Europe

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Networks Western Europe has appointed Mertijn De Nooijer, who heads up the company’s affiliate business in Benelux, to the new role of VP of affiliate for Western Europe.

The announcement comes on the heels of a decision to merge the distribution teams across Eurosport and Discovery’s Western Europe business. The exec will work with the sale and management teams across the region to leverage its portfolio of 29 Discovery and Eurosport channel brands with affiliate partners. De Nooijer will also continue in his current affiliate role in the Benelux market. He’ll report to Dee Forbes, the president and managing director for Discovery Networks Western Europe.

“Mertijn is a strong business executive with the right commercial acumen to help us strengthen our distribution business across all our markets,” Forbes said. “He also worked previously at Eurosport, so will be able to utilize his substantial experience of both organizations.”

Forbes continued: “We have been very focused on building scale across Western Europe by strengthening our existing portfolio of channels, launching new brands and acquiring new networks such as Switchover Media in Italy. With the addition of Eurosport, we now have access to sports programming which gives us an exciting new pipeline of content, and a genre which many see as the ultimate in live factual entertainment. Mertijn will help us leverage this portfolio across all our markets and add even greater value to our partners.”

De Nooijer commented: “It is an exciting time to be part of the Western Europe business and to help it fulfill its growth plans further. The combined Discovery and Eurosport portfolio has an unrivalled footprint across Western Europe. We will focus on creating new value for affiliates, advertisers and audiences alike.”