”I am incredibly proud of the changes we have made to modernize and strengthen the Eurovision Song Contest”, he says in a press release.
According to Österdahl, ESC has during his time, among other things, managed to attract long-term sponsors and increase engagement and reach on digital platforms. It has "brought millions of new fans to the competition”, he says.
”I am deeply grateful to the entire ESC community and especially to the ESC Core Team, participating program leaders, artists and fans for their passion and support,” he continues in the statement.
Martin Green, who was appointed director for Eurovision Song Contest 2024, will step in as executive director until a replacement for Österdahl has been appointed.
During Eurovision in Malmö 2024, Martin Österdahl was booed, among other things, due to Israel's participation in the competition. After the competition, EBU set up a crisis management group and an independent investigation, where Martin Österdahl's work would be reviewed.
Österdahl was project manager and executive producer for Melodifestivalen 2007 and 2008 and for Eurovision Song Contest 2013 and 2016. He was appointed as ESC's top manager in 2020.
