Liberty Global recycles Lutz Schüler from Unitymedia to Virgin Media

With Liberty Global selling a bunch of its German stuff to Vodafone it has decided to recycle an exec it would otherwise lose.

Lutz Schüler has been CEO of German cableco (and part of the above deal) Unitymedia since 2011. He has apparently done a decent job because Liberty Global has decided to resurrect the role of COO at Virgin Media in the UK to accommodate him rather than see him fall into the clutches of Vodafone. The same sentiment doesn’t seem to apply to Winni Rapp, who will replace Schüler having been CFO at Unitymedia.

“Since our initial acquisitions in 2009 and 2010, Unitymedia has grown revenue 60% and operating cash flow 80%, and has led the market in broadband innovation,” said Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global. “With the pending sale of our German business to Vodafone, Virgin Media takes on greater importance within our platform in Europe and we want the strongest team possible driving this business. I couldn’t be happier to keep Lutz in the Liberty family.”

“I’m excited to have Lutz join the Virgin Media team,” said Tom Mockridge, CEO of VM and his new boss. “His track record in Germany as an operator speaks for itself and he will provide a new level of marketing energy and leadership that will benefit Virgin Media customers and employees.”

“I’m thrilled to join the Virgin Media team and work alongside Tom,” said Schüler. “As I embrace this new challenge, I know that Unitymedia will be in strong, capable hands under Winni’s leadership.”

“Taking the reins at Unitymedia at this critical time is a great honour.,” said Rapp. “If you want to see the future of the TV and broadband business you need to look no further than Unitymedia. I will continue our proud tradition of innovation and our customers will be well served when Unitymedia and Vodafone join forces.”

Everyone seems pretty pumped about this little reshuffle don’t they? The COO role was previously filled, with Dana Strong having been promoted into it in March 2017. But that just seemed to served to enhance her professional profile enough to catch the eye of Comcast, to whom she defected less than a year later. Liberty Global will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself with Schüler.