Dean Possenniskie
Managing Director A+E Networks, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Managing Director A+E Networks UK (a Hearst/SKY joint venture)
The architect of A+E Networks EMEA's growth and development over the past decade and a sculptor of high-performance teams and talent, Dean Possenniskie is the company's leader.
As Managing Director of both the EMEA and UK arms of A+E Networks since 2010, Dean has driven change, growth, and new partnerships, making A+E Networks a key player across the EMEA media landscape. He has created a new leadership team for the company, of executives and General Managers, each experienced authorities in their fields and markets. Through them, Dean has led A+E Networks EMEA's channel, distribution and digital expansion, opening up to audiences across new platforms and territories for the company’s range of brands and their ground-breaking and iconic content. Leading through a clear company vision and purpose has been a key foundation for Dean. "First and foremost, we’re a company that believes in and delivers on our purpose of ‘Sharing Stories that Matter,’" he says. "Creativity and storytelling are at the heart of our business, making a positive impact with the millions of people our brands reach each month."
Dean has lead A+E Networks EMEA into new innovative partnerships such as with Sky History in the UK, Amazon & Apple across Europe with the growth of A+E’s SVOD brands, and with TikTok and YouTube in reaching new younger audiences with short form creative content. In 2021 the company made its first step into direct-to-consumer audiences and subscribers too, with Crime+Investigation Play in the UK market. As a result, leading platform partners such as Sky, Vodafone, Amazon, Telefonica, Liberty Global, DSTV and many others have embraced the company’s vision to share A+E Networks quality programming across the EMEA region.
Dean has reshaped the company to be leaner, focused and more agile with a greater diversity of talent and skills. Under his direction, A+E Networks EMEA is now a ‘diverse, talented, purpose-led company that leads change and grows value’ – a new mission articulated as part of his broader cultural shift for its staff in six offices across EMEA, something that received glittering recognition in the shape of A+E UK winning the Best Places to Work in TV award, bestowed by media journal Broadcast.
Before joining A+E Networks, Dean was recruited to BBC Worldwide as General Manager SVP Channels in 2006 to lead the creation of a new EMEA Channels business which would fully reflect the quality and diversity of the BBC’s programming and brands. Dean grew the company from a team of 20 people to over 150 during his tenure, launching five new brands including BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle, and more than 20 new channels across EMEA. The BBC headhunted Dean from his role as General Manager Emerging Markets at Viacom Media Networks, where he lead the company into new partnerships across Russia, Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, launching new channels such as MTV Turkey, Comedy Central Poland and Nickelodeon Russia.
Dean holds two London Business School qualifications and an Honours Degree from Massey University, New Zealand. "I love to read and learn and immerse myself in new experiences and cultures," he says, which explains his success in growing businesses and partnerships in diverse countries and cultures throughout his career.
