Jon Ola Sand to step down as Eurovision boss after Rotterdam

Jon Ola Sand, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor since 2011, has announced that the 2020 Contest will be his last in the role.

Following the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, he will return to his native Norway to begin a new role at the head office of public broadcaster NRK.

Sand will also leave the Head of Live Events post which oversees the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision Young Musicians and Eurovision Choir competitions.

“The past decade at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has been fantastic and exciting, but it will also be good to come home,” he said.

“I have been involved with the Eurovision Song Contest for over 20 years. First as Head of Delegation for Norway, then as Executive Producer in Oslo in 2010 and I have been privileged to have been the captain of the ship in Geneva for the past 9 years.

“Rotterdam will be my 10th Contest as Executive Supervisor and it seems a good time to pass on the baton and take on a new challenge at NRK. In my new role I will work to ensure that NRK continues to be a world-class public broadcaster and will be in the best possible shape for the future.”

Jean Philip De Tender, Director of Media at the EBU said Jon Ola Sand had overseen the growth and development of the contest.

“Jon Ola will now oversee his 10th Eurovision Song Contest for the EBU in Rotterdam before taking up his new role at NRK.”

As work continues on the 65th Contest, the EBU will now conduct a selective search for a successor.