OSN names Patrick Tillieux as new CEO
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 26 November 2018

Middle East pay-TV operator OSN has appointed pay-TV veteran Patrick Tillieux as CEO with immediate effect, succeeding Martin Stewart, who will become chief executive of Sky TV in New Zealand.

The news comes soon after the revealation that **OSN’s major shareholder KIPC is exploring opportunities to sell its 60.5 per cent stake in the Dubai-based pay-TV operator.

Tillieux has served on OSN’s board for two years and is the chairman of its executive committee. He currently chairs two companies as well as serving on the boards of other media companies. His previous roles include CEO of Red Bee Media (from 2012 to 2014), COO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media (2007-09). He also worked at SBS Broadcasting Services Europe between 2001 and 2007, finally becoming CEO. Other senior roles were held at Canal+ Holland and Flandres, Holland Media Group and TF1.

OSN said the board is delighted that Tillieux had accepted to increase his involvement and share the board’s vision for the company as the premier source of entertainment in the Middle East and North Africa region.

“His knowledge of the region, where he first worked in 1981, and his belief in OSN’s unique qualities and in the strengths of OSN’s teams will allow him to drive OSN to new heights,” OSN said in a statement.

Tillieux’s predecessor Stewart had implemented a number of changes to make OSN a more viable proposition in the region. At his behest, skinny’ packages are now being offered to subscribers at a cheaper entry point, and OSN’s over-the-top (OTT) service was rebranded and launched as Wavo.

“The board wishes to acknowledge Stewart’s efforts and achievements in strengthening operational efficiency and adding value to customers. Under his leadership, OSN has significantly improved its operations and imbedded a customer first approach. He has also enhanced the company’s digital and technology capabilities to better serve customers. The board thanks him for his contribution and wishes him the very best in all future endeavours,” said Faisal Al Ayyar, chairman of OSN.

Stewart will succeed long-serving CEO John Fellet at Sky TV in New Zealand.