ESPN (NYSE: DIS) is hiring Sony (NYSE: SNE) Pictures Television exec Ross Hair to replace Lynne Frank as its MD for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), paidContent:UK understands.
Frank’s exit, returning home to California for personal reasons, was announced in April.
ESPN is on a big growth curve in Europe, snapping up many TV and some VOD rights, particularly for England’s soccer Premier League.
It’s not yet clear when Hair will join, but it’s understood ESPN International EVP Russell Wolff will oversee operations.
At Sony Pictures Television, Hair is international networks EVP for the same EMEA region.
Previously, he had been ESPN Star Sports’ strategic planning director in Singapore and an executive at Nickelodeon UK and BSkyB.