Discovery announces new Eurosport management appointments
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Editor
| 28 March 2018

With an eye on its new flagship event, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and looking to capitalise on what it calls a record-breaking Winter Games in PyeongChang 2018, Discovery Communications has updated the senior management team of its Eurosport premium sports brand.

Principally, Emir Osmanbegovic — who has led the sports programming and production for Discovery’s sports brands in Sweden including the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Europa League, and its record breaking exclusive PyeongChang 2018 coverage — will now lead Eurosport’s international sports production. In his new role, he will also oversee Eurosport’s local sports production teams, including Olympic production.

Dave Schafer, who has already directed the complex planning and operational delivery of the company’s inaugural Olympic Games, will now lead all sports operations activities across the Olympics and Eurosport’s year-round calendar of premium live sports events. Both Osmanbegovic and Schafer will re-locate to Eurosport in Paris.

Senior vice president Laurent Prud’homme will now take on an expanded role that will now include additional responsibility for IOC and media services, and interim oversight of Eurosport’s events business, as well as continuing to oversee its rights acquisition and syndication groups, including the Olympics.

Discovery also confirmed the upcoming departure of chief executive officer Peter Hutton, while senior vice president content and production, Arnaud Simon, and vice president Olympic relations, Geraldine Filiol, will also depart the company to pursue other opportunities.

Commenting on the appointments, Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International, said: “As the first record-breaking chapter of our Olympic journey is complete, it’s proven to be an opportune time to reconsider our leadership and organisation with the goal of continuing to improve and grow the Eurosport business and brand. While the Olympics is a key part of Eurosport’s offering, one of our greatest strengths is that we showcase Olympic sports all-year round and these appointments will help usher in another great phase of growth for Eurosport.