Discovery Networks announce new leadership teams

Discovery's business in its emerging markets, part of the Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) will be led by Phillip Luff, who has been appointed as vice president, country manager for Emerging Business.

New head of Emerging Markets

Phillip Luff has 16 years of experience in Pay TV and digital media in Australasia, Japan, UK, Central and Eastern Europe in various senior management roles. Having been with Discovery Networks for eight of these years, he has international experience and has succeeded in roles that have included, GM for Discovery Networks Australasia Pacific, president and representative director of Discovery Japan, SVP and GM Animal Planet International, acting VP Distribution Discovery Networks UK, acting GM Discovery Networks Central Europe and most recently as acting country manager for South East & North East Europe.

The team

Luff's new regional management team will include Dilek Doyan as distribution director and Lee Hobbs as channel director. Luff will report to Kasia Kieli, executive vice president and managing director CEEMEA and is part of Kieli's senior management team which will include Caleb Weinstein, senior vice president, general manager EMEA Distribution and Paul Welling, senior vice president, Head of Channels.

Commenting on his appointment, Luff said, "The recent merger of our Central European and Emerging Markets' operations into the new Discovery Networks CEEMEA business has called for the creation of the Emerging Business regional management team focusing on businesses in Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Mediterranean and Central Asia. I am both excited at this new opportunity and confident that we will continue to focus on the expansion of Discovery in South Africa and across the African continent through broader distribution with a view to creating greater local relevance for our valued viewers and partners."

Dilek Doyran, emerging business distribution director has been with Discovery Networks since 2008 will support the region from a distribution perspective aiming for growth and better client service support.

She says "The creation of the new regional management team will ensure that we work closer with distribution partners to develop a local approach which is in tune with the needs of our audiences and clients across the region."

Lee Hobbs, emerging business channel director, will be responsible for the development of Discovery Networks' programming and brands across Africa, Turkey, the Middle East and Central Asia which includes day to day management of programming, media planning, marketing and PR. Hobbs has more than 13 years of experience and previously oversaw all consumer, trade and corporate communications in the region as director of public relations.

Commenting on the appointment, Hobbs said, "Our mission is to deliver content to our viewers and partners that is compelling, intriguing and locally relevant. We will continue to focus on delivering this and building our audience in the region with breakthrough programming and marketing initiatives."