Fox Networks Group (FNG) has tapped Brian Sullivan (pictured) – Sky Deutschland’s former CEO – to lead its digital division.

The newly created role is to see Sullivan coordinating strategy for the company’s direct-to-consumer digital video efforts while overseeing growth across FoxNow, FXNow, Fox Sports Go and the group’s international Fox Play products, among others.

Based out of Fox’s LA offices, Sullivan will report to Peter Rice, chairman and CEO of FNG, and is to begin the position July 27.

Sullivan’s additional duties in the role include working alongside Randy Freer, president and COO of FNG, and a raft of senior execs across the network – including John Landgraf, Hernan Lopez, Courteney Monroe, Gary Newman, Dana Walden, and Eric Shanks – to develop “a single global commercial platform” to bolster the network’s grip on digital opportunities around data, monetization and ad serving.

Previously, Sullivan oversaw German pay-TV provider Sky Deutschland – at the time a wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corporation and later 21st Century Fox – where the service’s customer base increased nearly 70% during his five-year tenure.

Prior to leading Sky Deutschland, Sullivan served in various capacities at BSkyB over a 13-year period – most recently as MD of its customer group – and held a number of senior roles in the American pay-TV industry, including a stint at Viacom’s Showtime Networks.

“Brian’s track record – which includes leading the turnaround at Sky Deutschland, as well as helping to build BSkyB into one the world’s most successful pay-TV platforms – underscores his constant focus on putting the customer first while embracing new technologies and platforms to deliver the best experience possible,” said Rice in a statement.

“It is vital that we have a single executive dedicated to these efforts, and Brian is clearly the perfect person to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead,” he added.