WarnerMedia EMEA has announced the leadership team for the EMEA Affiliate and Ad Sales Function, as well as for the Nordic, CEE, Middle East, Turkey and Africa Regions. The team brings together WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks with Warner Bros. to ensure a set WarnerMedia approach and to deliver an integrated EMEA approach to distribution for both existing and future services.

Jesper Steenberg, who currently oversees the HBO distribution in Europe, will now lead the business development, digital distribution and trade marketing for WarnerMedia's services in EMEA. He will be working closely with the local affiliate teams. He will also continue to oversee the Nordic affiliates business.

Matthias Heinze, who is currently responsible for the commercial operations for Turner in Germany and CEE, will now be responsible for the affiliates and ad sales businesses in GAS and Central and Eastern Europe. He also becomes general manager for WarnerMedia Poland with oversight on the theatrical and consumer products businesses in the country.

Guillaume Coffin, who currently manages affiliates and ad sales for France and Africa at Turner, will expand his remit to encompass Benelux, Greece, the Middle East and Turkey. He will also become general manager for WarnerMedia in Turkey with oversight of the theatrical business in the market.

Rita Akkari, who manages the distribution of WarnerMedia content to all players in Central, Eastern Europe and Russia, will now lead a newly formed TV and digital distribution group, which also includes home video digital distribution for CEE and Russia.

WarnerMedia EMEA's Pierre Branco says, "This exceptional group of executives will leverage our combined scale to tap into synergies through a single 'one WarnerMedia' lens and enrich the consumer offering across the full breadth of our brands, businesses and platforms."

"They will foster a more holistic approach to our ad sales and distribution strategies at the EMEA regional level, in close coordination with fellow country managers across EMEA, and work closely with the HBO Max team as we prepare for its arrival in due course in our markets," adds Branco.

"Their smart business acumen, commitment to new ways of thinking and deep connection to our brands will be a huge asset as we move forward," concludes Branco.