A+E’s European COO exiting

Nicolas Eglau is stepping down as COO of A+E and Sky’s joint venture operation.

Eglau has been COO and general manager of A+E Networks UK since late 2015, joining from RTL’s business in the Netherlands.

His role at the channels business spanned the UK, Nordics, Benelux and CEEMA regions, and A+E said today he will be with the company in an advisory capacity until end-August. He leaves his full-time role in the next few days.

Eglau is leaving to pursue other, as-yet-unspecified, challenges. No replacement was named, but A+E said announcements will follow about appointments to cover the outgoing exec’s responsibilities.

A+E Networks UK is a JV between US channel operator A+E and UK pay TV operator Sky. It runs channels in the UK, Scandinavia, Benelux, central and eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Eglau was one of A+E Networks EMEA managing director Dean Possenniskie’s first appointments when he took on A+E Networks UK in July 2015.

“Nicolas has played a formative role in further driving growth of A+E Networks UK since 2015,” Possenniskie said today.

“Under his leadership, our presence across the company’s international markets has grown significantly. I am pleased that Nicolas will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity through to the summer.”

Eglau said: “I’ve very much enjoyed working with Dean and the team. It’s been exciting to be part of the growth and transformation of the company and I’m very proud of the success we have achieved together.”

Prior to his time at RTL in Luxembourg and then the Netherlands, Eglau was at now defunct German media giant Kirch.