DUBAI: Sam Barnett is stepping down as CEO of MBC Group after more than two decades with the company.

He will be replaced by Mike Sneesby, the former CEO of Australian media network Nine Entertainment.

Barnett will join Central European Media Enterprises as its CEO. He will be based in Prague and oversee the company’s 46 TV channels and streaming platform Voyo.

Both men will take up their new roles on May 1.

“Sam Barnett has played a key role in growing our group into a regional market leader within the competitive media and entertainment industry,” MBC Group Chairman Waleed bin Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim said.

“Looking ahead, we have ambitious growth and expansion plans and I’m confident that Mike Sneesby, along with our stellar team, will propel the group to new heights.”

Before heading up Nine Entertainment, which runs several TV channels, websites and newspapers, Sneesby was CEO of its streaming platform subsidiary, Stan, which he also founded.

Sneesby said he aimed to continue MBC’s growth “with increasing global impact” through “innovation, creativity, digital transformation and our continued commitment to the production of world-leading content with fresh and compelling storytelling.”