Freeview and Freesat operator, Digital UK, has created the new role of Chief Commercial Officer, and Deep Halder, who is currently part of Samsung’s UK and Ireland TV leadership team, will take on the role.
He will lead the development of the organisation’s commercial and partnership strategy. A key focus will be on consumer electronics and operating systems partners as well as retail and content providers.
Mr Halder (pictured) has held a number of roles at Samsung – in strategy, business development, commercial, sales and marketing and general management – in the UK and South Korea. Before joining Samsung, he worked at a life-sciences and materials-sciences company in the Netherlands, and before that at a web start-up in the US.
Jonathan Thompson, Digital UK CEO, said: “I’m delighted that Deep is joining Digital UK in this important role as we think about the evolution of free-to-air television in the UK. Building long-term partnerships across the industry has been a vital part of the success of free-to-view TV in the UK and will remain a key part of our future.
“Deep is a highly experienced exec with a long and successful career at one of the world’s leading technology companies and I’m looking forward to him bringing his experience and expertise to DUK as we move free TV forward.”
Mr Halder said: “Working for Samsung has been a fantastic experience and I’m proud to have played a part in the company’s success as a Top 10 global brand. I’m now looking forward to moving to the other side of the TV business and I’m particularly looking forward to meeting all of the partners Digital UK already works with and hopefully forging some new relationships as well.”
As part of the senior management team restructure, Digital UK’s Finance and Legal Director, Eric Mitchell, is being promoted to Chief Finance Officer, and the current Director of Business Development and Strategy, Simon Hunt, will step down from his role at the end of September following a handover with Mr Halder.
These appointments and promotions complete the process of a new top team at Digital UK. The final team comprises Orf Warr as CTO, Sarah Milton and Carl Pfeiffer as CPO, Deep Halder CCO and Eric Mitchell CFO.
