A+E Networks UK Revamps Leadership Team

LONDON: A+E Networks UK has shaken up its leadership team, appointing Nicolas Eglau as chief operating officer and promoting Heather Jones to senior VP of content and creative.

Effective September 1, in his newly created role, Eglau will oversee A+E Networks UK’s operating and commercial units in the U.K., as well as other territories. He will be responsible for finance, legal, operations, strategy, distribution and ad sales. Eglau also serves as general manager of the Nordics, Benelux and CEEMEA, managing the company’s offices in Copenhagen, Warsaw and Johannesburg. He joins the company from RTL Netherlands.

“I’m excited to undertake this new role at A+E Networks UK,” said Eglau. “There are growth opportunities for our business and brands in the U.K. and the company’s other territories, and I look forward to working with the entire A+E Networks team and our partners to build upon the company’s solid foundation.”  

Jones will manage all creative units of A+E Networks UK, including programming, marketing and communications, creative and digital in her expanded role. Jones, who joined A+E Networks UK in 2013, will continue to serve as general manager of the U.K., a role she has occupied since February 2015. 

“I’m absolutely loving life at A+E Networks and am proud to work for a company that has world-class content in all genres and a fantastic set of channel brands,” Jones said. “I’m really looking forward to broadening my remit to encompass all content and creative divisions and am delighted to be working alongside such experienced executives.”

Eglau, Jones and Karl Burnett, the VP of human resources, comprise the A+E Networks UK leadership team, which reports to Dean Possenniskie, the managing director of EMEA for A+E Networks. “The A+E Networks UK brand portfolio has seen rapid expansion over the past five years, both within and outside the U.K.," said Possenniskie. "As we continue to drive growth of our brands and business, we looked for strong leaders to develop and execute strategy.” 

“With his corporate strategy background and expertise operating channels, Nicolas Eglau is positioned to drive business performance and further channel growth across our markets,” Possenniskie added. “Heather Jones is one of the most well-respected television executives in the U.K., and is a passionate advocate of our brands and content. I am pleased to announce her expanded leadership in overseeing content and creative strategy for our brands.”

A+E Networks UK is a joint venture between A+E Networks and Sky. It operates 18 channels in the U.K., Nordics, Benelux, Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa.