Qatar-based sports and entertainment group beIN Media has made further changes to its senior management by promoting Martin Aurenche to the position of vice-president of sports content.
Aurenche has been with the group from when it launched its channel in France in 2012, and manages major relationships with international rights-holders as well as negotiating key acquisitions.
Aurenche this month headed the beIN negotiation team that secured Ligue 2 club football rights in France for a four year term, complementing beIN’s existing rights to the top-tier Ligue 1 for that period. He also helped to secure Uefa Champions League and Europa League rights for Digiturk – beIN’s subsidiary and the biggest pay-television network in Turkey – until 2021.
Aurenche, who is a fully-qualified lawyer, will now lead and manage beIN’s Central Acquisitions Team globally, principally spending his time in the key group offices in Paris, London and Doha, but also focused on the group’s interests and operations in the Americas and Asia.
The strategic move comes just weeks after Yousef Al-Obaidly was appointed as chief executive of the group by chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Al-Obaidly said: “I’ve worked closely with Martin over the past seven years and his knowledge, experience and reputation across the industry is second to none, and will be a real asset as we embark on the next phase of our international growth.”