PPF’s TV Markíza names Yettel Hungary chief as CEO

Peter Gažík & Matthias Settele

Central European Media Enterprises (CME)-owned Slovak commercial broadcaster TV Markíza has named Peter Gažík as its new CEO.

Gažík, who will take up his post on September 1, will replace existing chief executive Matthias Settele.

Settele, who will remain a member of the editorial board of CME, will continue at the broadcaster until the end of October to ensure a smooth transition.

Slovak native Gažík most recently worked as the CEO of telco Yettel Hungary, a position he held since January 2021. Yettel and CME are both owned by Renáta Kellnerová’s PPF Group, which also holds a stake in Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1.

Prior to that, he led O2 Slovakia as CEO for six years.

TV Markíza said that Gažík’s knowledge in consumer-facing businesses, team leadership experience and expertise in digital transformation would help drive the development of the content and distribution strategies of the company.

“The media and entertainment industry is one part about creativity and innovation and the other part about fully engaged leadership, relationship building and talent management. Peter, whom we welcome back to TV Markíza, where he started as a foreign correspondent in 2004, has demonstrated and confirmed his leadership skills and ability to adapt and learn at every stage of his career. I am looking forward to him joining the TV Markíza team and improving the already very strong position of TV Markíza,” said CME deputy CEO Dušan Švalek .

“TV Markíza and CME would like to thank Matthias Settele for his contribution over the last 10 years as CEO, during which Matthias successfully led the launch of the group’s new TV stations, the implementation of CME’s digital strategy, oversaw the long-term increase in viewership and the recent launch of the ESG initiative CME Cares. He is leaving the post of general director at a time when TV Markíza has a strong position on the market.”

Settele said: “I am grateful for the time spent with the wonderful TV Markíza team. After ten years, however, I decided to hand over the responsibility to a new manager and continue with my own consultancy projects. Together we have achieved a lot, thanks to which TV Markíza has become a leading television group and operator of the best local streaming platform. Now it’s time for me to move on.”