Turner poaches Giorgio Stock from Disney to run its European business

Turner Broadcast has poached Giorgio Stock from Disney and he will run the company’s business in the EMEA region.

Stock will join the Time Warner-backed company in April as president of Turner Broadcasting System EMEA.

He will run all of Turner’s entertainment and kids networks in Europe, Middle East and Africa and oversee the distribution of news channel CNN in the region. He will also manage all licensing and merchandising activity in EMEA region.

Stock was at Disney for 15 years, most recently as executive VP and GM, Disney Consumer Products, Publishing and Retail, EMEA. He also headed up the company’s content creation divisions. Prior to these roles he was senior VP & MD of Disney Channels Italy.

Gerhard Zeiler, president of Turner Broadcasting System International said: “[Giorgio’s] success in international licensing and merchandising, his experience in launching kid’s programmes and channels, as well as his deep understanding of digital commerce make him the ideal choice to lead our business in EMEA into the next stage of growth. Looking with fresh eyes at our business as a true leader, he will be a strong addition to Turner Broadcasting System International.”

Zeiler has introduced company-wide changes since joining Turner last April. There is a new organisational structure that Turner said is designed to give more operating power and accountability within the regions. Company headcount is also being reduced by almost a third.