MAFS owner Seven.One names chief exec

Germany’s Seven.One Media has named the managing director of ad agency Publitalia ’80 as its chief exec.

Nicola Lussana also becomes chairman at the Married At First Sight outfit, with former chief exec Markus Messerer becoming chief operating officer.

Lennart Harendza, who had been managing director prior to departing in February after 14 years with the company, returns as chief revenue officer.

Both Harendza and Messerer are also managing directors at Seven.One Studios, which is home to labels including UK-based CPL, Nordic outfit Snowman, Studio Flitz and Israel’s July August Productions.

Its companies are behind shows ranging from tentpole dating formats MAFS and Stranded on Honeymoon Island to recent launches Match My Ex, Play That Song Again and The Race.

The overhaul comes after MediaForEurope acquired ownership of Seven.One parent ProSiebenSat.1 earlier this month and a week after the installation of a new c-suite.

ProSieben said the changes would bolster the company’s presence “in the German-speaking region and beyond, supporting the next phase of growth.”

“By introducing a modern commercial approach for local and international advertisers and media agencies, Seven.One Media will strengthen its position as a strategic and globally relevant player in the market,” ProSieben added.

Seven.One was previously known as Red Arrow Studios, before selling its North American interests to Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company in 2022 and rebranding to its current name in 2024.

Lussana’s appointment signals new owners MFE will look to strengthen Seven.One’s presence across Europe, following a period in which the comany had been largely focused domestically.  

Broadcast International understands that ProSiebenSat.1 explored a potential sale of Seven.One earlier this year under former management.

Lussana started his career at Accenture before joining Publitalia ’80 in 2005. Since 2015, he has been managing director of media agencies, taking on an addition chief exec remit at Mediamond in 2023.

Marco Giordani, chief of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, said Lussana’s appointment marked “an important step in strengthening the company’s presence in the German-speaking region and beyond while supporting ProSiebenSat.1’s long-term industrial growth strategy”.”

Giordani, who replaced Bert Habets earlier this month, added that the company would now be “ideally positioned to drive forward the next chapter, based on growth and innovation.”

Lussana said: “Positioning our activities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland more closely to a European strategy will help us to extend our reach internationally, provide added value to our customers, and create additional opportunities for growth.”