Doug Baker Named COO Discovery Networks International

Veteran executive will also continue in his chief financial officer role at DNI

Doug Baker has been named chief operating officer — in addition to his chief financial officer role — for Discovery Networks International (DNI).

Baker currently serves as executive vice president and CFO, and will transition into his new role over the next few weeks, at which point he will become responsible for oversight of DNI strategy and research in addition to leading all financial aspects of DNI finance and global brand solutions.

He will continue to lead the division’s regional COO/CFOs in Western Europe, the Nordics (SBS-Discovery), CEEMEA, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.

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“Doug is a proven leader with more than 20 years of financial and operational management experience,” said DNI President JB Perrette, whom Baker will report to. “Doug’s strong financial acumen coupled with his strategic insights have contributed to Discovery’s leadership as the No. 1 pay-TV programmer in the world.”

Baker will also report to Discovery Communications CFO Andrew Warren.

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As DNI’s CFO for the past four years, Baker has led all financial aspects of the division and been a key strategic leader of the company’s major merger and acquisitions, including SBS Discovery Media in the Nordics — the largest acquisition in the company’s history; a majority ownership stake in Eurosport International; the largest pan-regional Sports business in Europe and Asia; a majority ownership of J:COM in Japan; the full acquisition of Switchover Media in Italy and Fatafeat in the Middle East; and the acquisition of UK production company betty.

Baker joined Discovery in 2005 as CFO for Discovery Commerce. Prior to joining Discovery, he served in a variety of financial, operating and strategic roles, primarily with consumer brand Hallmark.

The veteran executive earned an MBA in Operations Management from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University (Ohio). He will continue to be based at the company’s global headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.

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