By Andy Fry

Sky stalwart Andrea Zappia is to leave the company, according to reports emerging from the Italian media. One of the key architects of the Sky Italia service and Sky Showtime partnership, he will stay with the company until the middle of the year.

The news was delivered in an internal memo from Sky CEO Dana Strong who told colleagues that part of Zappia’s decision to leave is down to the high level of commuting he has had to do between Italy and the UK. In the memo, she praised the exec’s brilliant and impactful contribution across his many roles at the company.

Zappia was CEO of Sky Italia from 2011 to 2019 – leading the company’s aggressive expansion into new areas of content and introducing new products lines such as Sky Go, NOW and Sky Q. Briefly, his role expanded to CEO Continental Europe, with responsibility for the Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss markets. But in 2020 he was handed a new role as EVP and CEO new markets and new business. In this capacity, he led the development of Sky Showtime and was instrumental in the acquisition of Neos. His remit also included oversight of the rapidly growing Sky Studios.

In the memo, Strong called Zappia: “a strong and inspiring leader and a brilliant ambassador of the Sky brand. His entrepreneurial spirit, drive to grow and deep love for our business and people have shaped Sky for a long time.”