Sanoma Magazines underlines its commitment to accelerate its digital revenue growth by forming a dedicated organisation for digital media activities. After developing leading digital operations in Bulgaria, Hungary and the Netherlands, the company now appoints Michiel Buitelaar as Chief Digital Media (CDM) to head its international digital organisation as of 1 November 2009. Buitelaar will also become a member of the Sanoma Magazines Management Board. Next to his role at Sanoma Magazines, he will continue in his current role as COO Digital Media at Sanoma Magazines' Dutch business Sanoma Uitgevers.
Sanoma Magazines' digital media activities include all digital activities irrespective of their media platform, excluding radio and TV broadcasting. As a board member, the new CDM will determine Sanoma Magazines' strategic direction and ambition in digital media together with his fellow board members. He will also support Sanoma Magazines' companies in the execution of the digital strategy.
As CDM of Sanoma Magazines, Michiel Buitelaar will be based at the Divisional headquarters in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He will support the leveraging of best practices across geographies whilst securing local expertise and market knowledge. In addition, he will act as a sounding board for local CEOs and support M&A and business development.
Buitelaar has gained extensive media experience in previous executive roles. As Director Consumer Market at Dutch telecom operator KPN he was responsible for all of KPN's television and internet activities. Buitelaar was also Senior Executive Director responsible for digital media and new business at global audiovisual entertainment company Endemol.
Since 2008, Buitelaar has been responsible for the development of digital media as Chief Operating Officer at Sanoma Magazines' business Sanoma Uitgevers. Sanoma Uitgevers and its subsidiary ilse media are the leading national digital media company in the Netherlands.
Sanoma Magazines is a Division of the Sanoma Group, a strong European media group operating in diverse fields of media in more than twenty European countries