Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group re-appoints Sam Barnett as CEO to replace Marc Antoine d’Halluin

Marc Antoine d’Halluin

Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group has rejigged its senior team by appointing Sam Barnett as its CEO to replace Marc Antoine d’Halluin, with the former Zodiak Media CEO moving to a board position.

Barnett had been with MBC for almost 20 years, including as group CEO, prior to his exit in October.

He was subsequently replaced by d’Halluin in December 2019,who will now become an advisor to the board with a remit to guide strategy. D’Halluin recently helped to launch Asacha Media Group with Endemol Shine Group’s former COO Marina Williams and fellow Zodiak Media alum Gaspard de Chavagnac.

Other changes see Majid Al Ibrahim appointed as a board representative “to assess, oversee and facilitate the implementation of new initiatives and mandates.”

The rejig comes as MBC looks to ramp up its international expansion following the launch of SVOD Shahid VIP, which was rolled out into North America in October.

Shahid also named former Viaplay exec Jakob Mejlhede Andersen as is chief content officer,who told TBI earlier this year that the streamer is looking to “substantially” ramp up budgets for its drama. MBC has more recently struck content partnership with Facebook to develop content for the social media service’s VOD platform Facebook Watch.