ProSiebenSat.1 Supervisory Board appoints Thomas Ebeling as new CEO
Munich, December 9, 2008. Thomas Ebeling will be the new CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, from March 1, 2009. He last served as CEO of Novartis Consumer Health and as a member of the Novartis Executive Committee. He was appointed to the ProSiebenSat.1 Executive Board and named CEO at the Supervisory Board meeting of December 9, 2008. The current CEO Guillaume de Posch will leave the company on December 31, 2008. Axel Salzmann, CFO, will be interim CEO from January 1, 2009 until Thomas Ebeling assumes his new post.
Götz Mäuser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG: In Thomas Ebeling, we have found an outstanding CEO for ProSiebenSat.1. He is in the first rank of German Chief Executives with broad international experience, and a strong leadership track-record in global companies such as Pepsi and Novartis where he drove impressive growth stories. A clear strategic vision, a strong skill to get things done and his capacity to innovate are the hallmarks of his career. At ProSiebenSat.1, Thomas is the right man at the right time. I am looking forward to working with him. I also wish to thank Axel Salzmann for serving as interim CEO until March.
Thomas Ebeling, future CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG: The position of CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 is a great task in a fascinating and dynamic industry environment. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues in order to unlock the enormous potential of ProSiebenSat.1 in Europe. I have always liked to work in growth-oriented companies because they have creative employees who possess a deep understanding of consumer needs and market trends. In my earlier posts in the consumer goods and pharmaceuticals industries, innovative products and marketing excellence were the key to success. At ProSiebenSat.1, the key factor is cutting-edge and top-of-the-range content. Therefore, I consider it one important aspect of my new role to develop and implement strategies that will strengthen the creative process and drive the efficiency which enable ProSiebenSat.1 to grow successfully and to build its leading position in the media industry.
For the past twenty years, dealing with the media has been part of my day-to-day activities, as a marketing director, managing director and most recently as CEO in companies which are among the worlds biggest advertisers. To join the media side now and to shape the development of Europes most dynamic media enterprise is a very exciting career move.
After earning a degree in psychology in Hamburg, Thomas Ebeling, who was born in Hanover on February 9, 1959, began his career with Reemtsma in 1987, where he served as the product manager responsible for the West brand, among other duties. In 1991, he switched to Pepsi-Cola Germany, where he served as a marketing manager. In 1993, he was appointed Marketing Director for the entire beverage portfolio. Starting in 1994, he was National Sales and Franchise Director for the retail and restaurant sales of Pepsi-Cola. In 1996, he was appointed General Manager of Pepsi-Cola Germany. In 1997, he switched to Novartis, where he served as General Manager of Novartis Nutrition for Germany and Austria. In 1998, Thomas Ebeling assumed worldwide leadership of the Novartis Nutrition Division. In this position, he headed the three business units Medical Nutrition, Health Nutrition and Consumer Retail Brands, where, among other duties, he was responsible for the leading U.S. baby food brand Gerber. In 1998, he was appointed to the Novartis Executive Committee. From 2000 to October 2007, he served as CEO of the global Novartis pharmaceuticals business. Under his leadership, the companys revenues more than doubled from US$11 billion to US$22.6 billion. In October 2007, he was appointed CEO of the Novartis Consumer Health Division. From March 1, 2009, he will be the new CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG.
CVs and photographs of Thomas Ebeling and Axel Salzmann can be found online at www.ProSiebenSat1.com.