Susanna Dinnage, the boss of the Animal Planet channel, has dumped Discovery to become the top boss of the English Premier League (EPL) as the first woman to hold this position, and will start in her new job as EPL CEO in early-2019.
Susanna Dinnage quit as the first vaunted global boss of Animal Planet a year after she was appointed as Animal Planet global president in November 2017. Before this she was chief content officer at Discovery Networks International
Susanna Dinnage is now switching one set of animals for a whole other set of animals as she replaces Richard Scudamore as the top exec at the EPL who is leaving at the end of this year.
The EPL - seen on SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv - is the United Kingdom's top football league and hugely popular around the world with expensive and highly lucrative international broadcasting rights.
Discovery has named no Animal Planet boss successor yet. Susanna Dinnage has been at Discovery since 2009.
Susanna Dinnage quitting Discover's Animal Planet is shocking and surprising, given how she and Discovery effusively hyped her "global" Animal Planet role, the channel that of course got culled without much notification at the end of 2017 in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.
"We had a very strong field, but Susanna was the outstanding choice given her track record in managing complex businesses through transformation and digital disruption," says Bruce Buck, chairman of the Chelsea Football Club and the Premier League's nominations committee, in a statement.
"She is a leading figure in the broadcasting industry, a proven business executive and a great developer of people. She is ideally suited to the role and we are confident she will be able to take the Premier League on to new heights."
"Richard Scudamore, having provided exceptional stewardship for almost 20 years, will leave us at the end of the year in great shape and with an excellent executive team and board able to fully support Susanna."
Susanna Dinnage says "I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role. The Premier League means so much to so many people".
"It represents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and inspirational organisation is a great privilege. With the support of clubs and the team, I look forward to extending the success of the League for many years to come."
Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International, says in a statement: "Susanna has been a terrific leader for Discovery over the last 10 years. She has a strong understanding of brands and running diverse media businesses both in the United Kingdom and more recently with Animal Planet globally".
"She has been a fantastic teammate for all of us at Discovery, and we are delighted that she has been given this unique and groundbreaking opportunity to lead one of the world's preeminent sports organizations."
