Marc Antoine d’Halluin
Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group has reinstated its senior team by replacing Sam Antett as CEO in place of Marc Antoine d’Halluin, with former CEO Zodiak Media moving to a board position.
Barnett had been with MBC for nearly 20 years, including as Group CEO, before leaving in October.
Halluin was replaced in December 2019, who will now serve as an advisor to the board with a remit to guide strategy. D’Halluin recently helped launch Asacha Media Group with former Endemol Shine Group’s Marina Williams and Chavagnac’s fellow Zodiak Media Gaspard gas.
Other changes see Majid Al Ibrahim appointed as the board’s representative “to assess, lead and assist in the implementation of new initiatives and mandates.”
The rejig comes as MBC looks to expand on the international expansion following the launch of SVOD Shahid VIP, which was launched in North America in October.
Shahid also named Viaplay exec Jakob Mejlhede Andersen as chief content officer, who told TBI earlier this year that the climber is looking to “significantly” raise budgets for his drama. MBC has recently struck a content partnership with Facebook to develop content for the VOD platform of the Facebook Watch social media service.