Adrian Sarbu Appointed President And COO Of CME As Of Jan 1, 2009

Garin was appointed Chief Executive Officer of CME in 2004 and under his leadership CME grew to become the leading broadcaster in Central and Eastern Europe operating 22 TV networks. Mr. Garin was instrumental in defining the company’s strategy and its growth over the last five years.

CME Chief Operating Officer Adrian Sarbu has been appointed President of the Company and will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer. 

 

"I would like to thank Michael for his contributions as Chief Executive Officer over the past five years. The more than fivefold increase in the Company’s enterprise value during his tenure is an incredible record of achievement," said Ronald Lauder, CME’s founder and Chairman of the Board.

 

“Adrian Sarbu has been CME’s partner in Romania since 1995 and was promoted to Regional Director in 2006 and Chief Operating Officer in 2007. Throughout his time with the company, he has demonstrated outstanding management abilities. I look forward to the continued development of CME under his leadership," Lauder added.

 

"CMEs operations are run today by local management, because that’s where the competence and energy are, that’s where the strategies we are now implementing have been elaborated. This is the result of my work for CME over the past years. The international economic context has created the need to have a single voice represent CME. The Board has given me the responsibility to manage over 3500 professionals in seven countries and to represent CME in its relations with investors and all its partners. CME will remain a company which cultivates values,” Sarbu said.

 

"CME remains in very strong hands.  My greatest source of pride is in our 3,500 employees – less than 40 of whom are from outside the region.  Building a company that has empowered the people from our seven countries – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine – will be my lasting legacy," said Garin.

 

Central European Media Enterprises is the largest media group in Central and Eastern Europe. Founded in 1994 by Ronald Lauder and his partners, the group has 22 television stations in seven countries: TV Nova, Nova Cinema, Nova Sport and MTV in the Czech Republic, PRO TV, PRO TV International, ACASĂ, PRO CINEMA, Sport.ro and MTV in Romania, Markiza, Nova Sport and MTV Czech Republic in Slovakia, POP TV and Kanal A in Slovenia, Studio 1+1, Studio 1+1 International, Kino and City in Ukraine,  Nova TV in Croatia and TV2 and Ring TV in Bulgaria.

 

CME stations currently reach about 97 million people in Eastern Europe. CME is traded on the NASDAQ and the Prague Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CETV”.