Thomas Ebeling | |
---|---|
Born | Hanover, Germany | February 9, 1959
Education | University of Hamburg (degree in psychology) |
Known for | CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, CEO of Novartis |
Spouse | Rita Ebeling |
Thomas Ebeling (born February 9, 1959, in Hanover[1]) is a German executive and the former CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media and Novartis.
Thomas Ebeling studied psychology in Hamburg. After graduating in 1987,[2] he started at Reemtsma.[3] In 1991, he switched to Pepsi-Cola Germany as a Marketing Manager. From 1994, he served as the National Sales and Franchise Director responsible for Pepsi-Cola's retail and hospitality sales. In 1996, he became General Manager of Pepsi-Cola Germany and switched to Novartis in 1997 as General Manager of Novartis Nutrition for Germany and Austria. In 1998, Ebeling took over the global leadership of Novartis's Nutrition Division. He became a member of Novartis's executive management in 1998. From 2000 to October 2007, he was responsible as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Novartis's global pharmaceutical business. In October 2007, he became CEO of the Novartis Consumer Health division.
Ebeling was the CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media from March 1, 2009, to February 22, 2018.[4] Among other things, Ebeling increased the share value of the broadcasting group from 0.80 Euros to over 50 Euros at times and brought the media company into the DAX.[5][6] At the time of his departure, the share price was 33 Euros. The manager established a diversification strategy at ProSiebenSat.1 and was the first to use the group's free advertising space to promote digital startup companies. In return, the media conglomerate received shares in sales revenues or company stakes.[7] E-commerce companies like Flaconi and Amorelie became successful due to this strategy.[8] From 2011 to 2016, Ebeling consistently led the corporation to new record results. Under his leadership, the company invested in the comparison portal Verivox in 2015 and entered the dating industry surprisingly in 2016 with a high investment in the ParshipMeet Group.[9][10]
Although his contract term was extended prematurely to 2019 in July 2015,[11] he left the company on February 22, 2018, after making derogatory remarks about viewers.[12]