Sophie Turner Laing, Sky's Managing Director, Content, is to step down from her role later this year.

Sophie has been with Sky for 11 years during which she has been fundamental to the creative and commercial development of Sky's content business. She has led the expansion of its portfolio of entertainment channels, with the launch of Sky Atlantic, Sky Living and Sky Arts, and the growing breadth and quality of its programmes, including its ground-breaking partnership with HBO and its increased commitment to original British production.

Jeremy Darroch, Sky's Chief Executive, commented: "I would like to thank Sophie for her outstanding leadership and for the tremendous job she's done developing our content business. With the support of an excellent team, Sophie has helped us to make a step change in the scale and ambition of our entertainment offering.

Sophie will leave with all of our best wishes and I am pleased that she will continue to have a close relationship with Sky in the future. I'm confident that the strong foundations that Sophie has put in place, together with the strong team here at Sky, will enable us to take the business to even greater heights in the future."

Sophie Turner Laing added: "I have had the most fabulous career at Sky. As a passionate believer in creative change, it is now someone else's turn to drive the next phase of growth in content at Sky. I have been hugely privileged and honoured to work with such brilliant colleagues across the company."

Sky will undertake a thorough recruitment process and announce the appointment of Sophie's successor in due course.

As Managing Director, Content, Sophie has responsibility for Sky's portfolio of entertainment, movie and news channels as well as its studios and production services. She also leads Sky's relationships with joint venture and partner channels and oversees the international distribution of channels and programmes.

Sophie joined Sky in March 2003 from the BBC where she held a number of senior roles including Acting Director of Television. Sophie began her television career at Henson International Television, setting up HIT Entertainment with Peter Orton in 1989 and later moving to Flextech. She is a non-executive director of Debenhams plc, Vice-President, Television, for BAFTA, and a trustee of The Media Trust and the National Film & TV School.

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For more information:

Eleanor Mills
Eleanor.mills@bskyb.com

About Sky:

Sky is the UK and Ireland's leading home entertainment and communications company.  Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK's biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News.   Around two-thirds of Sky's content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes.  More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator.  Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi.  NOW TV, Sky's second consumer brand, builds on the company's leadership in internet TV.  Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite 'triple-play' provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts.  Sky employs 24,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.2 billion and is estimated to support a £5.9 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).

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