Discovery splits UK and EMEA operations

Managing director of the Discovery Networks Europe division Robin Paxton has quit, with the company announcing the split of its UK and EMEA divisions.

The two arms were previously run as a single London-based unit reporting to Paxton. UK general manager Dan Brooke and Europe, Middle East and Africa general manager Arthur Bastings will both head up the new operations from the beginning of February, reporting to Discovery Networks International Dawn McCall, who is based in Maryland in the US.

McCall said the UK business continues to be Discovery Networks International's most successful single market, opportunities in Europe meant it was beneficial to aid long term growth.

McCall told Variety: "It has long been a goal of Discovery Networks to grow the UK and EMEA businesses into the successful businesses they are today with their own fully functioning management teams. The strength of the UK and EMEA teams and the tremendous growth in our European operations is a tribute to Robin's leadership."