Effective June 1, Frank Vogel assumed overall responsibility for the advertising business of RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland. He now oversees the combined advertising business of RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland across German-speaking Europe. In addition to his role as CEO of Ad Alliance, he is also responsible, according to RTL Deutschland, for Sky Media, the international ad sales activities of RTL Ad Alliance, and RTL Deutschland’s ad-tech investments in Smartclip, Yospace, and SQL Service. He reports directly to Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Deutschland.
A shared strategic umbrella
RTL Deutschland said Frank Vogel’s expanded responsibilities will further align reach, content, technology, and advertising sales under a common strategic framework. Advertisers and agencies will gain access to one of the most comprehensive video portfolios in the German-speaking market, spanning news, entertainment, sports, streaming, pay-TV, and digital content.
To ensure the swift and focused integration of Sky Media into Ad Alliance, Iris Plach and Matthias Trott have been appointed Managing Directors of Sky Media with immediate effect. In their new roles, they will report directly to Frank Vogel. The aim is to preserve and build on the strengths and expertise of both organizations while positioning their structures for the future.
New opportunities for advertisers and agencies
“We are creating the conditions to continue the strategic development of our advertising business in an increasingly globalized market,” said Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Deutschland. “Bringing together key sales activities creates new opportunities for advertisers and agencies while strengthening our position as one of Europe’s leading media companies in video and advertising. We look forward to benefiting from the extensive expertise and experience of our Sky Media colleagues.”
Frank Vogel, CEO of Ad Alliance, said: “The strengths of our two organizations are an exceptionally strong fit. Building on that foundation, we will develop even more compelling solutions for our advertising partners and bring linear TV, streaming, and digital and addressable channels closer together. That will open up new opportunities for modern video advertising. We will work closely with our teams throughout the integration and continue to build on our expertise.”
National strength, international scale
In addition to national advertising sales activities, Frank Vogel’s new area of responsibility will also include international ad sales via RTL Ad Alliance, led by CEO Stéphane Coruble. With its international portfolio of broadcasters, publishers, and streaming services, RTL Ad Alliance gives advertisers access to audiences across numerous markets worldwide and, according to the company, is one of Europe’s leading advertising sales platforms.
Frank Vogel will also oversee the strategic management of RTL Deutschland’s ad-tech investments under the leadership of Martin Hoberg, Chief International Ad Tech Officer. One key focus area will be Smartclip. The technology platform develops solutions for the converged and automated management of advertising inventory across linear and digital channels. Its focus includes programmatic and addressable advertising solutions, as well as AI-powered technologies for campaign planning, delivery, and optimization.
Frank Vogel has served as CEO of Ad Alliance since June 2022 and has played a key role in driving its transformation into a cross-media and converged advertising sales organization. Under his leadership, Ad Alliance has developed into one of Germany’s leading cross-media advertising sales units. Vogel holds a degree in psychology and brings many years of experience in media, advertising sales, market research, and advertising effectiveness, including various leadership positions at Gruner + Jahr. Going forward, he will oversee the strategic development of advertising sales across RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland in linear, digital, and international markets.
