Zbigniew Napierala was born in 1945 in Wronki, Poland . He studied international law and earned a Masters in Science degree in 1968 from the Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan.

After five years running a concert agency, he entered the media business in 1974 when he became Editorial Director of the Regional TV Station in Poznan. He moved to Warsaw in 1986 and became General Director and Editor-in-chief for a leading channel of the national television network. He was appointed as TV correspondent in London from 1988 until 1991, when he joined the ITI company in Warsaw as Vice President of their Media Division. In 1993, he was appointed Head of the Publishing House which later became Edipresse Poland. In May 2007, he became Chief Executive Officer Eastern Europe.