“We’re doing our best to manage the change but I’m not naïve.”
That was the verdict of Christina Sulebakk, who runs the newly-minted Skydance‘s operation in the Nordics, Germany and Benelux, over how she is approacing the $110B merger in her territories.
Sulebakk, who has been with various iterations of the newly-merged group for 15 years, beginning at HBO Europe, added that “the transformation feels more substantial because the entire media ecosystem is evolving simultaneously.”
Speaking at the Munich Media Days conference, Sulebakk was asked about the “elephant in the room” and considered how “some are energized by change and see it as a constant source of opportunity,” while “others naturally worry about what it means for their role, their team, their leaders, their relationships, and the future.”
Sulebakk is one of the first senior international Skydance executives to speak publicly since the merger closed earlier this month. The majority of Skydance international is being led out of L.A. by JB Perrette, although questions remain over the final shape of the non-U.S. part of David Ellison’s behemoth, including how territories may eventually get divided up.
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“We’re doing our best to manage the change, but I’m not naïve,” said Sulebakk. “I understand that change will have an impact. What may feel even more significant is that the entire industry is changing at the same time. RTL is going through change, ProSieben is going through change, and Netflix is going through change.”
She said her approach is about “being present” and communicating. “From a leadership perspective, communication is essential,” she added. “Everything starts with communication: being present, honest, and as transparent as possible. That means sharing as much as you’re allowed to share.”
“I’m not here to hold a pen and have a title”
Once bedded in, Sulebakk, who took on the German-speaking markets and Benelux territories at the old Warner Bros. Discovery at the start of 2026, stressed that she wants to be an active leader.
She pointed to the potential for partnerships with platforms like YouTube and talked up windowing possibilities on the likes of Netflix, Prime Video and Hulu.
“I’m not here to hold a pen and have a title,” she added. “I want things to change. I want to look for opportunities in the market.”
