Jeremy Darroch steps down as Sky chief executive after 13 years

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 12d

Jeremy Darroch is to step down as CEO of Sky after 13 years in the role, it is announced.

Sky has announced that Jeremy Darroch is stepping down as chief executive after 13 years in the role.

The news comes two years after US broadcasting giant Comcast took control of Sky, which operates in the UK and Ireland, Germany, Italy and Austria.

During his tenure as CEO from 2007 - before which he was CFO for three years - Darroch has overseen the growth of Sky to almost 24 million customers across Europe and the development of production arm Sky Studios, which will shortly launch a 32-acre film and TV production complex in Elstree.

Comcast has announced that Dana Strong, currently consumer president of Comcast Cable in the US, will replace Darroch as CEO, while he will move to the role of executive chairman for the rest of 2021 before becoming a special advisor to the company.

Comcast chairman Brian L Roberts said: "I would like to thank Jeremy for his exceptional leadership of the company over thirteen years, and his partnership in the last two years since we acquired Sky.

"Sky's values have been a perfect fit for ours at Comcast and that is very much due to Jeremy. He and his team have built a world-class brand and a strong, well-run business that will continue to flourish.

"Jeremy has been a terrific colleague to me and everyone at Sky, but I respect his decision that now is the time for him to make a change. I am pleased that he's agreed to stay on to help with the transition to new leadership, and will continue to advise me and the company."

Of his decision to quit, Darroch said: "It has been a privilege to lead Sky for 13 years, and an experience that I have looked forward to every day, so the decision to leave has not been easy. But with the business firmly settled into the wider Comcast Corporation and a strong plan in place, now is the right time.

"I feel incredibly lucky to have been surrounded by colleagues who care as deeply as I do about this business and our customers and work tirelessly every day to make their lives better."

Strong is expected to take over as the new CEO immediately.