Scripps makes pair of EMEA hires

Scripps has recruited former Disney and Sony exec Ross Hair to run its affiliate sales and ad sales across its UK and Europe operations.

Hair (left) becomes senior VP, commercial, for Scripps Networks UK & EMEA, working across the Food Network, Travel Channel and Fine Living pay TV channels.

Scripps has also brought in Filippo Ubaldini as its country manager for Italy. Starting on April 2, he will have oversight of content, programming and marketing at Scripp’s Italian channels.

Both new execs report to Phillip Luff who was poached from Discovery Communications and is about to start at SNI as managing director, Scripps Networks UK & EMEA, replacing Jon Sichel, who is returning to the US to take a newly-created commercial role.

Ross Hair has been consulting since setting up ESPN’s EMEA operations. Prior to working at Disney’s ESPN, Hair was at Sony Pictures Television’s channels division for a decade.

Ubaldini (right) is the founder of Filmedia, the Italian channels consultancy. He has worked with Scripps on the launch of a local Fine Living channel in Italy, and has also been a staffer at Discovery  and Mediaset.

“Appointing Hair and Ubaldini, both with strong commercial experience and impressive track records, to spearhead these divisions will ensure we continue to extend our brands and business opportunities across the region,” said Jon Sichel.

There have been several comings and goings at Scripps in recent months. EMEA content and marketing boss Nick Thorogood is leaving while Katharina Feistauer has been brought in as vice president of programming.

Earlier this month the channel operator acquired Polish TV group TVN. It is also thought to be pushing for full control of UKTV, which is currently run as a joint venture with BBC Worldwide.