Desai named OSN interim CEO
August 31, 2021
By Chris Forrester
Dubai-based pay-TV operator OSN has seen CEO Patrick Tillieux depart for “personal reasons”, and a new interim CEO appointed in Sangeeta Desai.
Faisal Al Ayyar, Chairman of OSN, commented: “The Board is delighted that Sangeeta has accepted the position of Interim CEO, which will increase her involvement with OSN as she works towards the Board’s vision for the Company as a leading entertainment hub in the region. Sangeeta has a proven track record in successfully leading large-scale company transformations, scaling businesses, navigating disruption, and growing global brands. She brings with her a unique combination of strategic, operational, and financial expertise, having led global media businesses for over a decade bolstered by an early career in private equity and investment banking.”
Desai was Group COO and CEO of Emerging Markets at Fremantle, and prior to that she was COO of Hit Entertainment. She started her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan before becoming a private equity investor at Apax Partners.
Desai said: “As a member of the Board, I have been privileged to witness the new heights scaled by OSN in last 12 months. It is an honor to be selected as Interim CEO and I look forward to working with the team.”
The earlier CEOs were:
Patrick Tillieux joined OSN in November 2018, taking over from…
Martin Stewart (ex Sky/FA) who joined in June 2016, taking over from…
David Butorac (ex Sky/Astro) who joined in October 2010, taking over from…
Marc-Antoine d’Halluin (ex Canal+) who joined Showtime in December 2006, taking over from…
Peter Einstein (ex MTV) who was founding CEO at Gulf DTH-Showtime from January 1997.