The two top executives of Infront’s subsidiary Host Broadcast Services (HBS), CEO Dan Miodownik and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Luc-Antoine Charial, will step down from their respective positions as of 30 September 2026.
A formal leadership succession process involving both internal and external candidates will be initiated shortly, prioritising continuity and stability for HBS employees, customers and partners.
Miodownik and Charial have chosen to step down following the delivery of key 2026 HBS projects, including the host broadcast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this year’s tennis US Open, and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
During their eight years driving HBS’ expansion, the executives have contributed to the host broadcast expert’s global sports properties, including the FIFA World Cup and all other FIFA Events, UEFA EUROs, the French Football League, Spain’s La Liga, Concacaf Gold Cup, Copa America, the World Athletics Championships, the Rugby World Cup, the French Open at Roland-Garros and the US Open.
Credit: Host Broadcast Services
Miodownik joined HBS in 2004 and was appointed CEO in 2018. He previously held the positions of Chief Content Officer (CCO) and Director of Production leading multiple projects around the globe. As Senior Vice President (SVP) of Infront, he headed up group production services, including Infront Productions in Zug and Milan. He also served as a Member of the Infront Group Management Board. His career started in news and sports radio in 1991, this was followed by senior roles at Sky Sports, TEAM Marketing’s Champions League operations in Switzerland, ITV Sport, and Input Media.
On the other hand, Charial has been with HBS since 2000 and moved into the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role in 2018. Prior to this step, he served as Finance Manager, Director of Corporate Affairs, Director of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, and as Project Director for the French Ligue 1/2 and Asian Games projects. He graduated from the Paris Dauphine Business School and joined HBS from an audit company.
Philippe Blatter, President and CEO of Infront, said: “We owe a significant debt to both Dan and Luc-Antoine as well as considerable recognition for their achievements for HBS and the Infront Group. They leave our host broadcasting and production business ready for the future. In addition, Dan’s contribution, collaboration and insight over the years as a member of the Infront group management board, were and always will be much appreciated. I wish him and Luc-Antoine all the very best in their future endeavours. We are truly grateful for their significant achievements for Infront and look forward to keep working closely with them until their departure at the end of September.”
Miodownik commented: “My career at the helm of HBS has been an absolute honour, working with the very best in the business, both clients and staff. After more than 20 years of growing the business and contributing to major achievements in host broadcasting, it is time for me to embrace new professional challenges following the successful delivery of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the US Open host broadcast and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship this summer. It was immensely important to both of us to announce the planned leadership change well ahead of the upcoming event milestones to allow for a smooth transition afterwards. We thank Infront for their support over the years and we remain fully committed to the success of all HBS’ projects this summer – looking forward to another chance to collaborate with the great team we have at HBS on what will be three major events.”
Charial concluded: “My 25 years with HBS have been incredibly fulfilling, learning from the very best in the industry. I was able to experience almost every aspect of the global sports production and host broadcast business and to co-lead the development of HBS and Infront Productions. With a seventh consecutive FIFA World Cup on the horizon, I am confident I have chosen the right time for me to embark upon new challenges. The planning for the upcoming projects is well on track, and we both remain fully committed to take both FIFA World Cup and the US Open to the next level of host broadcasting excellence this summer.”
YouTube and FIFA recently signed a Preferred Platform agreement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 – enabling media partners and creators to publish extended highlights, Shorts, video-on-demand content, and moments from FIFA’s Digital Archive. Discover more here.
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