Discovery appoints UK managing director
Discovery Networks UK has appointed Dee Forbes to the role of managing director and executive VP.
Forbes will manage all commercial and channel activities related to Discovery’s UK business, which consists of 12 pay TV brands including Discovery Channel, DMAX and Real Time.
She replaces the interim MD, Sahar Elhabashi who is also chief operating officer for Discovery Networks International, based in London.
The role was previously held by Dan Brooke who left the company at the beginning of the year. Elhabashi will now continue in her role as COO.
Forbes joins from Turner Broadcasting Europe where she is the senior VP and general manager for Turner Broadcasting System, UK and Ireland.
She takes up her new position in January and will report to Greg Ricca, CEO and president of Discovery Networks International.
She will also be responsible for managing the Freeview channel which the UK business will launch later this year.
Discovery Networks UK is one of four regional business units managed within Discovery Networks International.
Currently at Turner, Forbes oversees all aspects of the Turner business in the UK and Ireland, an entertainment network of seven channels including Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies.
Her remit covers commercial and network functions including ad sales, sponsorships, programming, on-air, operations, research, business development, marketing and communications.
Forbes has spent 14 years at Turner in a variety of commercial roles. Prior to that she worked at Media Audits, a media consultancy that advises UK advertisers on media strategy and at Young & Rubicam Media in Europe.
