Gerhard Zeiler, president of international for Warner Bros. Discovery, looks likely to leave the company ahead of the merger with Paramount after he declared his intention to enter politics in Austria.
Zeiler recently revealed that he would make a bid for the leadership of Austria’s ruling Social Democratic Party. If selected for the role, Zeiler would replace Austrian Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, who is the government’s number two figure. On Sunday, Babler said he would quit as leader of the Social Democratic Party next year, following unrest within the party over its decline in the opinion polls.
The Social Democrats are the second party in a three-way coalition government led by conservative Chancellor Christian Stocker of the People’s Party.
In an interview on Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, Zeiler warned, “If we don’t manage to make social democracy strong, the extremists will win.” He pledged that he would be business-friendly and added that he was “no Marxist,” and “no class warrior.”
At Warner Bros. Discovery, Zeiler has strategic oversight for the company’s brands and joint responsibility for direct-to-consumer in more than 220 international markets. He is also responsible for local theatrical production and acquisitions, as well as managing the country and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
Appointed president of WarnerMedia International in 2020, Zeiler added responsibility for Discovery’s international footprint following the close of the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger in April 2022.
He first joined Turner in 2012 as president, Turner International, where he oversaw the entertainment and kids’ networks in all markets outside of North America, working with core global brands on local and regional channels.
Prior to joining Turner, Zeiler was CEO of RTL Group, a division of German conglomerate Bertelsmann and Europe’s largest television production and broadcast company. Under his leadership, RTL expanded its international footprint, bringing hit competition shows like “Idols” and “Got Talent” to the U.S. market and growing its holdings to 41 channels and 34 radio stations across 10 countries.
Variety has reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery and Zeiler for comment.
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