HBO Max Appoints New Content Leaders for UK and Italy Ahead of 2026 Launch

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the strategic appointments of Sasha Breslau and Alessandro Volpato to lead content acquisitions for HBO Max in the UK and Italy, respectively, as the streaming service gears up for a significant launch in early 2026 across key European markets. Breslau, who will take on the role of Vice President of Content Acquisitions for the UK and Ireland starting October 2025, brings over two decades of experience from ITV, where she last served as Head of Content Acquisitions. In her new position, she will report to Ragnhild Thorbech, Senior Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions, EMEA, and will be responsible for sourcing content, negotiating rights, and forming strategic programming partnerships to enhance HBO Max's regional strategy. Her previous achievements include overseeing the licensing of over 8,000 hours of content for ITVX, including high-profile titles such as *Love & Death* and *The Originals*.

Simultaneously, Volpato has been appointed as Director of Acquisitions for Italy and will report to Joana Silva, Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions. With a background at Amazon Prime Video, where he was Senior Manager of Content Acquisition, Volpato is set to lead negotiations with local and European studios and distributors while collaborating with the broader EMEA acquisitions team on pan-European projects. His experience includes working on original Italian series and securing international content.

The appointments come as HBO Max accelerates its international growth, having recently launched in 12 new markets in July 2025, bringing its total availability to over 90 countries. The UK and Ireland launch is particularly strategic, coinciding with the expiration of Warner Bros. Discovery's output deal with Comcast-owned Sky, which will position HBO Max as the exclusive regional home for its flagship programming.

Experts in the media industry view these appointments as crucial to HBO Max's competitive strategy in the European streaming market. According to Dr. Emily Schneider, a media analyst at the University of London, 'The UK and Italian markets represent significant opportunities for HBO Max, especially given the evolving landscape of content consumption.' The strategic hiring of Breslau and Volpato is indicative of the platform's commitment to localizing its content offerings and enhancing viewer engagement.

As HBO Max prepares for its entry into these markets, the company aims to curate a diverse lineup of HBO Originals, Max Originals, Warner Bros. Pictures titles, DC Studios content, and TNT Sports programming. This local focus aligns with broader trends in the streaming industry, where personalized and region-specific content has become increasingly essential to attract and retain subscribers. The upcoming launch in the UK and Italy is expected to set the stage for HBO Max's future expansion strategies in other European territories.

In conclusion, the appointments of Breslau and Volpato not only reinforce HBO Max's commitment to its European expansion but also highlight the platform's strategy to integrate local content expertise into its global framework. Observers will be closely monitoring how these leadership changes impact HBO Max's trajectory in the competitive streaming landscape as it seeks to establish a strong foothold in the UK and Italian markets ahead of its launch in 2026.