WarnerMedia rejigs HBO Europe as CEO Hervé Payan replaced by Christina Sulebakk

Christina Sulebakk

WarnerMedia’s ongoing restructure has continued with the exit of HBO Europe CEO Hervé Payan and the appointment of Christina Sulebakk to take on his remit.

Sulebakk will become GM of HBO Europe and lead the linear networks and streaming service across the continent, effective immediately.

She reports into Priya Dogra, who was appointed president of WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks for EMEA and APAC earlier this week.

Sulebakk has been at HBO Europe for almost a decade, most recently serving as EVP, CMO & head of distribution. She has previously worked for the company in Madrid, Budapest and New York, playing a key role in expanding its streaming operations in Central Europe and launching HBO España.

Payan, meanwhile, will be leaving the company at the end of August having been CEO of HBO Europe for eight years. He becomes the latest senior exec to depart WarnerMedia as it restructures its operations in preparation for the roll-out of HBO Max outside of the US.

Yesterday, the company appointed Johannes Larcher, MD of Middle East streamer Shahid, to oversee the international roll-out of its HBO Max service. He will report to Gerhard Zeiler, chief revenue officer at WarnerMedia and president of its International Networks.

His first focus will be the launch in Latin America, which is expected in 2021, and will see him work closely with Whit Richardson, who was also appointed yesterday as president of WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks Latin America. Richardson was most recently president of Turner Latin America.

Dogra was named on Monday to replace the outgoing Giorgio Stock, who stepped down at the end of June. She will share responsibility for the kids business in EMEA and APAC with Tom Ascheim, who was recently named president of global kids, young adults and classics at Warner Bros.