Eleven Sports has strengthened its senior team, with appointment of Anouk Mertens as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Mertens has a history at the company, previously serving as Managing Director of Eleven Sports in Belgium and Luxembourg since October 2015, turning the business profitable in under three years and achieving 100% household distribution across the market.

In her role as Group COO, Mertens will amongst other things; manage budgets in all areas, review market performances and seek synergies and operational efficiencies across the group. Mertens will also retain her role as Managing Director in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Eleven Sports Group COO, Anouk Mertens, spoke of her new role: “Having spent the last three years leading ELEVEN SPORTS’ operation in Belgium and Luxembourg, I have developed an intimate knowledge of the business and its global operations. I am thrilled to take up a formal role in the company at Group level at such an exciting time.

“With continued global growth, our innovative approach to business and with more exciting projects on the horizon, this is a great time to strengthen our Group structure. I am very excited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Eleven Sports Group CEO, Marc Watson, commented on the firm’s new appointment: “Alongside her Belgium and Group colleagues, Anouk has helped turn our Belgian operation into a strong and profitable business in a short space of time. We are delighted that she has agreed to help us improve our operations around the Group.”

Prior to joining the network, Mertens was Managing Director of Audio and Visual at leading media business Sanoma. Before that, she spent seven years as VP of Television at Belgian Telecommunications company Telenet.

Eleven Sports is owned by Andrea Radrizzani, who is also the chairman of English Championship club, Leeds United. The firm secured a deal to broadcast Serie A, it also won the rights from Sky Sports to show La Liga for in the UK this season.

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