Robert Klein is to leave his role as chief executive of Bundesliga International, the global commercial rights division of the top-tier German soccer league, at the end of the year.

In an announcement today (October 26), the DFL, the German soccer league, said that Peer Naubert, currently chief marketing officer of the subsidiary, would assume Klein’s responsibilities “from the end of the year until further notice.”

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SportBusiness has reported that Klein will lead football operations at IMG Media.

Klein joined Bundesliga International at its inception in 2017 from Red Bull Media House, the media subsidiary of the energy drink brand, where he had served as head of global rights.

His contract was extended in 2019, with then-DFL executive Christian Seifert expressing the organization’s trust in Klein for expanding the international marketing of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.

A series of international rights deals had already been struck by then during Klein’s tenure, including with Digi Sport in the Czech Republic, Eleven Sports in Portugal, and Digi Sport and Telekom Sport in Romania.

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Subsequent major deals have been struck with the likes of Canal Plus in sub-Saharan Africa, Sky Italia in Italy, Eleven in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal (again), Sky in the UK, Sony Pictures Networks across the Indian subcontinent, and BeIN Sports in the Middle East and North Africa following a hiatus in the region due to piracy issues.

The Bundesliga Pass streaming platform developed during Klein’s time at Bundesliga International has also now been launched for territories where the league does not have rights deals in place.

Donata Hopfen, chair of the Bundesliga International supervisory board, said: “We would like to thank Robert for his commitment over the past few years and wish him all the best for his personal and professional future.

“As part of our strategic considerations, we are already working intensively in the supervisory board to develop Bundesliga International in the best possible way to meet the challenges of the future and to make use of the great potential in the international marketing of German professional football.”