Discovery Chief To Replace Scudamore

The Premier League has unveiled Discovery’s Susanna Dinnage as its new chief executive.

She becomes only the third person to lead the top tier of English football, joining Rick Parry and outgoing chief Richard Scudamore, who will step down in December after almost 20 years at the helm of the organisation.

The first female to hold the position, Dinnage joins the Premier League at the end of a ten-year career with media organisation Discovery, parent company of Eurosport, where she currently holds the role of global president of the Animal Planet channel.

It follows speculation that the Premier League would follow other major global sports rightsholders in looking to the media industry to fill its top position.

Dinnage was chosen for the role by the Premier League Nominations Committee, comprising Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, Susan Whelan (Leicester City), Mike Garlick (Burnley), Claudia Arney and Kevin Beeston, both directors of the Premier League.

The twenty clubs making up the Premier League had already agreed to split Scadamore’s role, with Dinnage becoming chief executive and the search for a non-executive chair to commence.

“We had a very strong field, but Susanna was the outstanding choice given her track record in managing complex businesses through transformation and digital disruption,” Buck commented.

“She is a leading figure in the broadcasting industry, a proven business executive and a great developer of people. She is ideally suited to the role and we are confident she will be able to take the Premier League on to new heights.”

Dinnage, whose career started at MTV, followed by ten years with Channel Five, joined Discovery in 2009 and helped run its British and Irish operation, which included Eurosport.

Commenting on her appointment, Dinnage said: “I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role.

“The Premier League means so much to so many people. It represents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and inspirational organisation is a great privilege.”

JB Perette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International added: “She has a strong understanding of brands and running diverse media businesses both in the UK and more recently with Animal Planet globally.

“We are delighted that she has been given this unique and ground-breaking opportunity to lead one of the world’s pre-eminent sports organisations.”