Michael Brooks has been announced as general manager for Australia and New Zealand at Warner Bros. Discovery [WBD], in addition to his existing role of managing director, Warner Bros International Television Production Australia [WBITVP].
Juliet Peterson (VP, head of networks ANZ) and Andrew Bromell (VP, Consumer Products ANZ) will now report to Brooks, while retaining their respective positions. WBITVP New Zealand remains within its current reporting structure, reporting into WBITVP headquarters in London, and is not part of Brooks’ expanded remit.
The former senior vice president & head of networks Warner Bros Discovery Australia, New Zealand & Japan, Glen Kyne, left the company several months ago. Mediaweek met Kyne in Auckland just two weeks ago where he is now co-hosting the popular New Zealand media podcast The Fold with The Spinoff founder Duncan Grieve.
See also: Warner Bros Discovery ANZ leadership shakeup: Glen Kyne out, Juliet Peterson in
Glen Kyne and Juliet Peterson
Michael Brooks has been with Warner Bros. Discovery since 2016. In this newly expanded role, he will oversee all non-theatrical businesses locally, comprising networks and streaming, content licensing and home entertainment, consumer products and games, as well as WBITVP Australia. Brooks will report into Singapore-based James Gibbons, president, APAC and Europe-based Ronald Goes, president, WBITVP.
James Gibbons and Michael Brooks comment
“ANZ is a key market in the region with strong assets and clear opportunities for growth,” said Gibbons. “Michael is a seasoned leader with strong understanding of the local industry, and global expertise across several business verticals. Together with our local heads, I have every confidence that our ANZ business is set up to drive optimum value.”
“It’s a time of immense opportunity as we continue to evolve with our rapidly changing industry,” said Brooks. “We have fantastic initiatives on the horizon across all of our business units and the more closely we are aligned, the stronger we’ll perform. I’m excited to get stuck into this new role and work with the leadership team to leverage our world-class brands and drive growth, innovation and exceptional results for our audiences and partners.”
Michael Brooks
Brooks is based in WBD’s Sydney office. Prior to joining WBD, he spent more than 10 years in the United States, including leadership positions at BBC Studios and Endemol Shine North America. His newly expanded role of general manager, Warner Bros. Discovery Australia and New Zealand and managing director, Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia is effective immediately.
See also: Warner Bros. Discovery on local production plans and possible Max launch date