Discovery Int. appoints content boss as COO departs

Discovery Networks International COO Sahar Elhabashi is leaving the company. DNI said that her position will not be replaced.

As COO, Elhabashi handled the day-to-day running of the international business. Her departure comes soon after that of Greg Ricca, whose departure as president and CEO of international was announced last December. Like Ricca, Elhabashi joined Discovery in 2007. Both were former MTV executives.

Separately, DNI announced that Luis Silberwasser is taking the newly created role of international head of content. He will report to Mark Hollinger, DNI’s recently installed president and CEO. Discovery said it has created the role to “accelerate DNI’s ratings success across the company’s global channel portfolio of over 100 networks”.

Silberwasser has been at Discovery since 1998 and is currently senior VP of the content group for Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic and general manager US Hispanic Networks.