WBD’s head of programming in Germany exits after 15 years

4 Blocks

Warner Bros’ Discovery (WBD)’s head of programming in Germany, Anke Greifeneder, is stepping down after more than 15 years with the company.

Greifenede had been VP of originals for WBD in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, taking on a remit last year that included oversight of channels such as TNT, as well as local programming for streamer HBO Max.

She had started working for Turner in Germany in 2007 and had been behind shows such as well-regarded German gangster drama Four Blocks and Add A Friend.

Greifenede, who will depart in March, is the latest senior exec to exit WBD as its latest reshuffle across Europe continues.

Clement Schwebig, who had managed India, Southeast Asia and Korea since 2020, was upped earlier this month to take on responsibility for Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Anke Greifeneder (Source: Turner)

Schwebig is also now in charge of WBD’s operations in France, Benelux and Africa as well, following an overhaul by WBD international chief Gerhard Zeiler that saw the regions brought together into a single Western Europe & Africa unit.

German exits amid Europe reshuffle

Those changes followed a year of restructuring with WBD’s EVP in Germany, Hannes Heyelmann, revealing last month that he would be stepping down following two decades with the company and its predecessors (prior to the merger between Discovery and Warner Media).

Heyelmann took up the role last summer, working as one of six execs overseeing Europe under fellow Turner alum, Priya Dogra, who subsequently announced her exit from WBD in August 2023.

Heyelmann’s appointment at WBD in 2022 came amid an initial wave of departures that saw VP of commercial development Alberto Horta leaving.

Sylvia Rothblum, who had overseen Germany, Austria and Switzerland for WarnerMedia, and Susanne Aigner, who was SVP & GM for Germany, Switzerland, Austria & Benelux at Discovery, exited the company in June 2022.

Confirming her exit, Greifenede said: “Time spent working is time spent living and I couldn’t have invested it better than at Warner Bros. Discovery.

“As head of programming, I had the privilege of building the German Turner channels from the beginning, hiring the most dedicated teams, and launching our production division with the first pay TV series on German television.

“I am grateful for the trust placed in me, the creative freedom, and my terrific team, which has come along on every adventure with an open heart. My passion remains telling stories. I will continue to do so in the future – how and where, I’ll let that come to me, there’s nothing like a good cliffhanger!”