Central European Media Enterprises (“CME”) is pleased to announce that Sam Barnett, a seasoned broadcasting professional, has been appointed as CME’s Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025.
“I’m very happy to welcome Sam to CME. After conducting a thorough succession process, we are confident that Sam’s global expertise and leadership experience make him the right person to lead CME in the future,” said Didier Stoessel, PPF Chief Investment Officer and CME’s current CEO, responsible for the Czech and Romanian markets.
In his new role, Mr. Barnett will succeed Mr. Stoessel, freeing Mr. Stoessel to focus on his duties as Chief Investment Officer of PPF, which also includes overseeing PPF’s media investments. Mr. Stoessel has held these dual roles at PPF and CME since 2022.
Since its acquisition by PPF four years ago, CME has undergone significant transformation as it moved from a linear-focused broadcaster to a linear and digital media group. The extraordinary growth of the Czech-Slovak subscriber base of the Voyo streaming service, from 30,000 to 950,000, the launch of Oneplay, an integrated over-the-top video streaming and live television platform, and the ongoing audience leadership of CME’s television channels across most of its markets underline the strength of CME’s business.
“I look forward to Sam and CME’s senior management continuing to lead the company to even greater successes, seizing the new opportunities in the company’s ongoing digital transition across our markets,” added Mr. Stoessel.
The new OTT platform Oneplay of CME’s Czech broadcaster Nova and PPF’s telecom operator O2 Czech Republic exemplifies the profound digital transformation of CME.
Sam Barnett commented on his appointment: “For over three decades, CME has always performed at the top of its game as the leading television entertainment and news source across multiple markets. The ongoing digitalization, forcing an evolution of viewing habits, is an opportunity that CME has seized. I look forward to building on this strategic advantage, maintaining CME’s pole position as the go-to source of video content in Central and Southeastern Europe.”
Mr. Barnett, a British and French citizen, will join PPF after more than two decades in senior management roles, including CEO at MBC Group, the leading media company in the Middle East with a daily audience of 140 million viewers. Earlier this year, as CEO of MBC, Sam oversaw the broadcaster’s successful initial public offering of its shares on the Saudi Exchange. Having lived and worked in many countries, from his native U.K. to New Zealand to Kenya and United Arab Emirates, Mr. Barnett brings truly global experience, as befits CME’s international business.
Before his career in broadcasting, Mr. Barnett worked in management consulting with PwC and Arthur Andersen. He holds a degree in economics from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD. Mr. Barnett will relocate to Prague, where CME is headquartered, at the start of his tenure.