RTL Deutschland poaches Netflix’s German unscripted content chief

Inga Leschek

RTL Deutschland has poached Netflix exec Inga Leschek to lead programming for its channel and streaming operations, marking a rapid return to the German broadcaster for the exec.

Leschek left RTL Deutschland to join Netflix in October 2021 but is now set to rejoin the broadcast giant from March, reporting into Stephan Schmitter, MD of programmes & brands.

She will oversee all programming including oversight of shows on streamer RTL+, following just over a year at Netflix as director of nonfiction for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia & CEE.

Ninja Warrior Germany

Before that, Leschek had been MD of RTL Studios (fka Norddeich TV) for seven years, with credits on RTL’s German version of Ninja Warrior, as well as for Guidos Deko Queen for Vox and Are You The One? for RTL+. She also had stints at Tresor TV and worked for Austrian pubcaster ORF.

Her return to RTL comes two months after a restructuring at the German broadcaster saw Schmitter promoted to the top content role.

His remit covers all content (entertainment, journalistic content, fiction, sports, RTL Studios productions) and brands from RTL Deutschland, with Andreas Fischer named COO.

The changes also saw Henning Tewes, previously chief content officer, leaving RTL Deutschland to move to RTL Group.

Schmitter said: “For us, Inga Leschek is the absolute dream person for this central position in terms of content and strategy. On the one hand, she has great expertise and passion for linear television and our viewers, on the other hand, she has the content from and in Germany.

“Together with our content teams and partners, we want to recapture the market leadership for RTL on TV in 14-59, continue the strong growth of RTL+ in the face of intense competition with the international platforms and, through uniform management of the RTL brand, linear and non-linear continue to expand our leading position as a streaming broadcaster.”