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´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Channels today announced the appointment of Nina Laricheva to the role of VP Commercial Development for its business in EMEA.

Reporting to Ian McDonough, SVP & GM EMEA, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Channels, Nina will be responsible for driving revenue growth and the strategic development of the business's thematic portfolio – ´óÏó´«Ã½ Knowledge, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Lifestyle, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Entertainment, CBeebies and ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD – as well as for ´óÏó´«Ã½ World News, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel.

Her role will involve developing the sales and business strategy for the channels in key markets across EMEA, negotiating multiplatform distribution deals in conjunction with local teams and establishing and maintaining relationships with internal stakeholders within ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide.

Nina will take up her new role on 1 November. She fills the position vacated by Ian McDonough on his elevation to general manager in August 2010, and will also act as his deputy in her new role.

With over 10 years of experience in the Pay TV industry, Nina has worked for a number of international broadcasters, most recently Universal Networks International. As Global Affiliate Sales Director, she was instrumental in growing distribution for the network, particularly in Benelux, Africa and the Nordic Region.

Prior to that, she worked as a consultant for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Channels, after having held the role of Commercial Director for Discovery Networks Europe.

Ian McDonough said of the appointment: "Nina brings to the role great expertise and a real understanding of the positioning of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide's Channels business, and its potential within the wider commercial television landscape. I'm delighted to have her on board as we look to build on the success of our channels in EMEA."

Laricheva added: "I am thrilled to be joining ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Channels. The portfolio has enormous potential for growth in EMEA and I look forward to developing new and existing business models with the view to creating greater relevance to our valued viewers."

´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Channels has experienced strong growth in EMEA since the first launch of the new thematic portfolio in Poland in December 2007. The business has now established a local office in Poland and has plans to do the same for the Nordic region.

This year, the business broke into Western Europe with the launch of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Knowledge in Italy, and also debuted CBeebies in the Nordic region via a branded programming block on Canal+ Family.

Additionally, October saw the premiere of the first original commission for the EMEA business – Come Dine With Me South Africa for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Entertainment in Africa.

Harriet Otoo