MBC, by any measure the most powerful broadcasting group in the Middle East, is set to lose its CEO Sam Barnett after 17 years at the helm.

MBC’s chairman Waleed Al Ibrahim in a note to employees said: “It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that I would like to inform you of the resignation of our dear colleague, Sam Barnett as CEO of MBC Group. Since 2002, Sam has played a pivotal role in the development and great success of the Group, leading by example with ambition, resilience, fairness and high standards of integrity and humility, achieving numerous significant accomplishments in the process. It has been a great privilege working with Sam, and while we will miss him, his loyal service and inspiring leadership, we wish him the best in his future endeavours.”

Dubai-based MBC will immediately begin a search for his replacement, but Barnett will stay on in an advisory role from January 2020.

Barnett will be a tough act to follow. Under his stewardship MBC has gone from a single DTH channel to a broadcasting giant with channels not only appealing to every genre but gaining high reputations, as well as radio stations, and an attractive OTT service.

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