Russia’s CTC Media appoints new CEO

Russian broadcaster CTC Media has appointed Yuliana Slashcheva, the president of Russia-based communications consultancy Mikhailov and Partners, as its new CEO.  

Slashcheva is due to start her new role effective August 1 and will succeed Boris Podolsky, who has been at the company for six years – first as chief financial officer and then chief executive officer.

CTC Media said Podolsky was leaving “in order to pursue other interests.”

“We look forward to working with Yuliana on the next stage of the Company’s development, as we build on the success of our existing channels and services,” said Lorenzo Grabau, co-chairman of CTC Media.

Slashcheva said: “The CTC Media brand is one of the most powerful in the market, and this is an exciting time for the development of the global media and entertainment business. I am looking forward to leading and working with the dedicated and talented CTC Media team to build on the company’s success, by accelerating the development of the existing operations and identifying and exploiting new areas of growth.”

Slashcheva began working at Mikhailov and Partners in 1994 as a manager and then account director. In 2002 she became head of corporate communications at ESN Group in and in 2004 took on a role as a partner and consultant at BBDO Group before returning to Mikhailov and Partners as president in 2005.

In its last earnings announcement in May, CTC Media said its operating income fell 8% year-on-year in the three months ending March 31 2013 as ratings on its four channels dropped, but claimed it was well set for the fall season.