Anouk Mertens
Anouk Mertens is the co-founder and global CEO of Emmy award-winning production company NEO Studios, leading the company’s worldwide operations, including production and creative development. NEO produces premium scripted and unscripted content across a variety of genres and subjects, including the company’s flagship sports and sports-related programming.
Prior to launching NEO, Mertens launched the Belgian operations of then Aser-owned ELEVEN Sports Group, serving as managing director before being elevated to Chief Operating Officer and eventually to Chief Content Officer of ELEVEN’s international operations.
Mertens began her career in media as a producer on the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. She then became VP Television with cable television operator Telenet (Liberty Global) and was responsible for managing the (digital) TV business and setting up their renewed premium movies and sports subscription business. After Telenet she joined Finish cross-media company Sanoma as Managing Director Audiovisual. At Sanoma she launched various content projects including tv and radio stations.
Mertens currently also chairs the board of directors for the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF) and is a board member of the European media group Mediahuis.