WBD’s Gerhard Zeiler to deliver MIPCOM opening keynote

Gerhard Zeiler

Gerhard Zeiler, president of international at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), will give the opening keynote at MIPCOM this year.

The keynote will be presented as a fireside chat in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday 16 October.

This year will be the 39th edition of the international co-production & entertainment content market, which is running from 16-19 October.

Zeiler is expected to share insight into Warner Bros. Discovery’s transformation post-merger as well as lay out the company’s worldwide content and streaming strategy.

Zeiler’s responsibilities for Warner Bros. Discovery span strategic oversight of brands and joint responsibility for direct-to-consumer activity, including streaming service Max, across more than 220 markets.

He is also responsible for local theatrical production, acquisitions, and country and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Originally appointed to the role in 2020, Zeiler’s remit extended to Discovery Inc.’s footprint in April 2022 following the close of the Discovery/WarnerMedia merger.

“We could not have a more relevant creative leader to be our opening Media Mastermind Keynote,” said Lucy Smith, director of MIPCOM Cannes. “With the industry at a pivotal point and global companies re-inventing for a new era.

“His presence at MIPCOM Cannes is a rare opportunity for entertainment execs to go inside the international strategy at the heart of one of the world’s biggest and fastest-evolving studios.”

Zeiler added: “Our industry is facing heightened disruption and undergoing a process of transformation. These are times of change but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to architect the media ecosystem for the next generation.

“I’m looking forward to speaking at MIPCOM about how WBD is putting storytelling first and refining and innovating to drive agility and flexibility to emerge in an even stronger position.”