Barnett has been appointed CEO of Central European Media Enterprises (CME), headquartered in Prague, and will assume office effective May 1, 2025.
Following an informal tweet in which we broke the news on April 7 about the change in leadership at MBC Group, BroadcastPro ME can now officially reveal that Sam Barnett is departing his role as CEO of MBC Group and Mike Sneesby will step into that role starting May 1, 2025. This is Barnett’s second exit from MBC.
Barnett will continue as CEO of MBC Group until April 30 and assume a new executive role in Europe from May 1, 2025. He has served as CEO of the Middle East broadcast network since November 2011, succeeding Executive Chairman Waleed Al-Ibrahim. He’ll continue to support the group as Advisor to the Board.
Mike Sneesby, whom BroadcastPro wrote about when he was Vice President of IPTV at Intigral, most recently served as CEO of Nine Entertainment (2021–2024) in Australia. He also founded Stan (2013–2021), which he built into one of the most successful streaming platforms.
MBC Group Chairman Waleed Al-Ibrahim lauded Sam Barnett’s role in growing “our group into a regional market leader within the competitive media and entertainment industry”.
“I wish him great success in his move to Europe. Looking ahead, we have ambitious growth and expansion plans, and I’m confident that Mike Sneesby, along with our stellar team, will propel the group to new heights,” he said.
In January 2024, Barnett oversaw MBC Group’s successful IPO on the Saudi Stock Market and has led the company through growth in value since its listing while optimising commercial revenues.
Speaking about his new role, Mike Sneesby added: “It is a privilege to join the team following Sam’s great success and leadership over the years. MBC leads the way in media across the region, and we will continue our growth with increasing global impact. We will deliver on this through innovation, creativity, digital transformation, and our continued commitment to the production of world-leading content with fresh and compelling storytelling.”
Sam Barnett joined MBC Group in 2002, serving as Director of Operations (October 2002 – June 2005); then, Chief Operating Officer (June 2005 – November 2011); and later, Chief Executive Officer (November 2011 – to date). He will take over from Didier Stoessel, who has served as CME’s CEO since 2022 and concurrently held the role of PPF’s Chief Investment Officer. Stoessel will now focus exclusively on his investment duties at PPF, including oversight of its media assets.
