By Stuart Thomson

France’s TF1 is to reorganise its distribution and digital leadership following the appointment of distribution chief Christine Bellin to oversee the merger of the broadcaster with RTL-owned M6 Group. 

Bellin, who oversaw the group’s digital activities before being placed in charge of distribution overall in 2019, will take up her new role at the beginning of July. Under the new structure, her previous wide-ranging responsibilities will be split between a number of senior executives.

Olivier Abecassis has been named as director of distribution, innovation and digital, with responsibility for the innovation and digital activities of the group along with distribution of and commercialisation of its channels and content with operators. He will continue to head up the business solutions activities of TF1’s digital and e-commerce umbrella outfit Unify.

François Pellissier has been named as deputy CEO in charge of sports. Sabine Gros becomes head of publishing revenue in Europe and the Doctissimo, Marmiton and Aufeminin online brands. Nicolas Capuron becomes head of operations, video production and Unify Tech.

Responsibility for mergers and acquisitions now falls to Philippe Denery, deputy CEO in charge of finance and procurement.

Strategy – also part of Bellin’s area of responsibility – will now fall to CEO Gilles Pélisson.

The new organisational structure will come into force from September 1.

“Faced with accentuated competition in the area of content, digital and advertising, this new organisation will enable us to create the necessary synergies to strengthen our position in the wider TV/digital market,” said Pélisson.

“Thanks to the achievements of our group and the talent of our teams, to which I wish full success in their endeavours, we are in good marching order to collectively set about the project of merging with M6 Group.”