Fox International Channels names Euro chief

Fox International Channels has named Jan Koeppen as president, Europe and Africa.

He will replace Jesus Perezagua, who leaves at the end of April after a decade the 21st Century Fox-owned channels company, the past three of which have been as European and African president.

Koeppen has COO of 21st Century Fox in Europe and Asia since 2009 and will now transition across to FIC. He will report to FIC CEO and president Hernan Lopez.

Among his new duties, Koeppen will assume profit and loss for the 84 television and online services FIC operates in the two continents, which together bring in revenue of more than US$1 billion. He will oversee channel brands such as FOX, FOX Sports, Fox Life and National Geographic Channel and JV’s including EMM in The Netherlands.

“It is a time of great opportunity in our business and we are excited to have someone of Jan’s insight and experience join FIC’s global leadership team,” said Lopez. “Jan has created enormous value for multiple divisions of 21st Century Fox and I am looking forward to having him run our Europe and Africa business.”

in his 21st Century role, Koeppen oversaw FIC’s portfolio of wholly- and majority-owned operating companies, including pay-TV operators Sky Italia, Sky Deutschland, BSkyB and Tata-Sky and pay and broadcast TV units Star India and FOX Turkey.

FIC said he was behind major 32 transactions and restructurings such Star India’s creation as a standalone brand, acquiring a majority stake in Sky Deutschland and integrating the Star channels outside India into the 21st Century Fox fold.