New chief for Russia’s Tricolor TV

Russian pay TV leader Tricolor TV has confirmed Alexey Khodolov as its new CEO. Khodolov was named deputy CEO of the group’s holding company, National Satellite Company, in May, and has also previously served as CEO of mobile operator Skylink.

The CEO role has been vacant since February, following the departure of the previous incumbent, Aleksander Makarov.

The CEO’s duties were fulfilled on an interim basis by regional development director Sergey Stavropoltsev, who was seen as a potential candidate to take the role on a permanent basis. However, Stavropoltsev left in July to become deputy CEO of smaller pay TV operator Ricord TV, whose active subscribers were subsequently acquired by Orion Express.