Turner reorganises its Asian business and leadership

The broadcasting group, which operates 23 channels across Asia-Pacific, will divide its regional operations in to three distinct sub-regions, North Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia (including the Pacific). Each will have its own management structure.

Steve Marcopoto, president and managing director of TBS Asia-Pacific, said the new set up would provide ownership and accountability to individual markets and the sub-regions themselves. "To better align us to meet the challenges and opportunities of these distinct markets in the years ahead, business will be run out of each sub-region with Hong Kong (Asia-Pacific headquarters) oversight and support,” he said.

The new structure involves a number of management and role changes at the top end of the Turner tree. Sunny Saha, has been named senior vice president and managing director of Entertainment Networks across the Asia-Pacific region. As part of that role, he'll also oversee the entertainment networks in the new Southeast Asia region. He'll be helped by Robi Stantion, who has been named the general manager of networks in Australia and New Zealand. 

Anshuman Misra will become senior vice president and managing director of Networks and Content distribution across Asia.

Yew Ming Lau will manage the North Asia sub-region, as senior vice president and managing director.

Siddarth Jain, meanwhile, will manage the South Asia sub-region, also as senior vice president and managing director. Monica Tata will assist her as vice president and general manager of Networks, managing all of Turner's networks in India.

Ringo Chan will focus specifically on the CNN news channel, as senior vice president of broadcast sales and affilliate relations, and will also continue his current role as national country director for Greater China.

Jeremy Carr has been promoted to vice president of entertainment, digital and ad sales, and Phil Nelson has become vice president of business development for the full Asia-Pacific region.

All appointments and promotions have taken immediate effect, Marcopoto said.

“We have the best management team in the business and our new approach will focus each of our executive resources more deeply on specific areas, rather than across the entirety of the substantial and complex region of Asia-Pacific”, he added. “This is a positive, forward-looking, strategic and long term initiative to continue to grow Turner Asia and deliver optimum performance to better seize exciting opportunities in the years ahead."