Warner Bros. Discovery has appointed Sasha Breslau and Alessandro Volpato to lead content acquisitions for HBO Max in the U.K. & Ireland and Italy, respectively. Appointments signal strategic push in key markets as Warner Bros. Discovery continues to expand HBO Max’s European footprint.
Breslau will join as Vice President, Content Acquisitions for the UK and Ireland in October 2025. Reporting to Ragnhild Thorbech, SVP of Programming & Acquisitions, EMEA, she will oversee content sourcing, rights negotiations, and strategic programming partnerships. Her remit includes helping shape HBO Max’s regional strategy and curating a diverse lineup of HBO Originals, Max Originals, Warner Bros. Pictures titles, DC Studios content, and TNT Sports programming. She will assume the role ahead of HBO Max’s launch in the UK & Ireland in early 2026.
Speaking of her appointment, Sasha Breslau, said: “HBO’s unparalleled series influenced my early decision to embark on a career in television, so the opportunity to join HBO Max as it launches here is irresistible. I’m thrilled to be working alongside Ragnhild and her talented team, and I look forward to collaborating with new and established partners to build on HBO Max’s streaming success."
Breslau moves from her role as ITV’s Head of Content Acquisitions. For HBO Max, she will oversee content sourcing, rights negotiations, evaluations for acquisition and pre-buy opportunities, identifying content partnerships as well as partnering with other key stakeholders on strategic programming decisions. During her tenure at ITV, Breslau was instrumental in shaping the content landscape of ITVX and ITVX Premium. She spearheaded the acquisition and licensing of over 8,000 hours of premium content for the launch of ITVX, and secured high-profile titles including "Love & Death," "The Twelve," "One Tree Hill," and "The Originals"—four of the most-watched international dramas on the platform.
Breslau also led the acquisition of the landmark Oprah with Meghan & Harry interview in 2021, which drew ITV’s largest audience since the 2018 World Cup and negotiated significant multi-year deals with Disney for Family Guy and American Dad.