In a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the Turkish market, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has announced the appointment of Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz as the new Vice President of Local Original Productions, Local Channels, and Streaming Operations Lead for Turkey. This expanded role will see Şaşmaz Oflaz overseeing both the streaming and linear TV businesses in the region, further solidifying WBD's commitment to delivering engaging content to Turkish audiences.

Unlocking the Potential of Turkey's Media Ecosystem

Streamlining Operations and Driving Growth

Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz's appointment as the Vice President of Local Original Productions, Local Channels, and Streaming Operations Lead for Turkey represents a strategic move by WBD to consolidate its operations and drive growth in the region. By unifying the management of both streaming and linear TV businesses, the company aims to leverage synergies and optimize its content delivery across multiple platforms.Şaşmaz Oflaz's extensive experience in the industry, having served as the CEO of WBD's streaming platform BluTV since January 2023, positions her well to lead this integrated approach. Her deep understanding of the Turkish market and her proven track record in content development and distribution will be instrumental in shaping the company's future in the region.

Strengthening Local Content and Brands

As part of her expanded responsibilities, Şaşmaz Oflaz will continue to oversee the development and production of local content for the Turkish market. This focus on localized programming is a crucial aspect of WBD's strategy, as it allows the company to cater to the unique preferences and cultural nuances of Turkish audiences.Moreover, Şaşmaz Oflaz will now also be responsible for managing the company's linear channels, such as TLC and DMAX, in Turkey. This move underscores WBD's commitment to maintaining a strong presence across both streaming and traditional TV platforms, ensuring that its diverse portfolio of brands and content reaches a wide range of viewers.

Streamlining Leadership and Responsibilities

The appointment of Şaşmaz Oflaz as the new Vice President of Local Original Productions, Local Channels, and Streaming Operations Lead for Turkey also involves a shift in leadership responsibilities within the company.Previously, the responsibility for managing the company's linear channels in Turkey, including TLC and DMAX, was held by Grigory Lavrov, the Vice President of Marketing, Local Brands & Franchise Management for Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) regions. Lavrov will now maintain his leadership of the trade marketing teams across CEE and MENAT, while taking on new responsibilities outside of Turkey.This reorganization of responsibilities allows WBD to streamline its operations and ensure a more focused approach to managing its various business units and brands in the Turkish market.

Leveraging Expertise and Continuity

Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz's appointment as the new Vice President of Local Original Productions, Local Channels, and Streaming Operations Lead for Turkey builds on her extensive experience within the company. Prior to her current role as CEO of BluTV, Şaşmaz Oflaz held several key positions within WBD, including Content and Commercial Director, Content Director, and Content Acquisition Consultant, starting from 2016.This continuity and depth of knowledge will be invaluable as Şaşmaz Oflaz takes on her expanded responsibilities. Her familiarity with the company's operations, content strategies, and the Turkish market will enable her to seamlessly transition into her new role and drive further growth and success for WBD in the region.