Paul Welling, who was Discovery Communications' senior vice president and head of channels for Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA region) has been appointed as senior vice president of international brand and franchise development for Discovery Networks International (DNI).
Discovery Networks International supplies several Discovery packages channels to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform DStv in South Africa and across Africa, as well as Discovery's Science channel to StarTimes Media SA's StarSat platform.
Paul Welling's move leaves Africa, the Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe without a channels boss at the moment.
In his new role, the highly experienced Paul Welling who has been with Discovery for almost 20 years and who will report to Marjorie Kaplan, DNI's president of content, will oversee the launch and growth of Discovery's brands and franchises around the world.
"Now more than ever, Discovery needs to bolster our strong and beloved global brands with content and dynamic campaigns that are not only authentic and purpose-driven, but entertaining, buzzworthy and compelling," says Paul Welling.
"Great content will inform some superb marketing and vice versa. We're vying for the attention of consumers in so many ways that content can't stand on its own and be expected to succeed."
"I think our business partners will continue to benefit from the fully immersive, panoramic view of utilising content and igniting all the great creativity around that content."
"With his new role, I am excited for Paul Welling to lend his talents to the entire organisation and really dig deep on curating content, brands and talent that resonate with viewers while galvanising our superfans across all screens and around the globe," says Marjorie Kaplan.
"He knows the right levers to pull in order to really make our content more than just a broadcast; he will make it into an event," says Marjorie Kaplan.
