ITV

Tag: appointment

  • Seagate appoints MD, sales & marketing for Asia

    Seagate appoints MD, sales & marketing for Asia

    MUMBAI: Seagate has appointed Rex Dong as its managing director of the sales and marketing organisation for Asia, excluding China and Japan. Dong will assume responsibility for sales, marketing and business development for Asia, in addition to his existing responsibilities as the country manager of Taiwan, Seagate Technology.

     

    “We are pleased to announce Rex’s new appointment,” said Seagate Technology senior vice president of global sales BanSeng Teh. “His excellent leadership skills will enable him to organise and manage diverse teams across multiple countries to build a more successful business for Seagate in Asia. Moreover, Rex has exceptional experience in working with the OEM customers and business partners. Rex also has acute business acumen and the ability to identify new business opportunities. We are confident that with Rex at the helm, he will take Seagate’s business in Asia to a higher level.”

     

    Dong was the former OEM manager for Seagate in Taiwan from 1992 to 2000, and he joined Seagate as the country manager of Taiwan, responsible for sales, marketing and the overall leadership of the Taiwan office in 2008.

     

    Prior to this, Dong was the general manager of Portwell, president and senior vice president of Ennoconn Corporation, an embedded solutions provider owned by Foxconn Technology. In addition to that, he held various management, sales and marketing positions at Mitac and Wiso Electronic in Taiwan.

     

    Dong majored in Electronic Engineering at the Tamkang University, Taiwan and graduated from the eMBA of National Chengchi University, Taiwan.

  • FCB Ulka Digital appoints Anushree Ghosh as strategic head

    FCB Ulka Digital appoints Anushree Ghosh as strategic head

    MUMBAI: FCB Ulka Digital has appointed Anushree Ghosh as digital strategic head.

    Prior to this, Ghosh was with SapientNitro where she was leading the strategy function. Ghosh has worked on a gamut of brands such as Nestle, eBay, ITC, GSK Horlicks and MTV, among many others in her previous avatars.

    Her expertise lies in decoding the digital consumer behaviour with over 12 years of varied experience and brings with her deep knowledge of digital strategy and brand management, which ensures deep consumer understanding and engagement.

    FCB Ulka Interactive senior VP Satish Ramachandran said, “We have had a great year, we have won quite a few large new business, we have won over 14 prestigious awards. We have been consistently investing in talent and technology to ensure we are ahead of the curve. Anushree’s experience will take FCB Ulka Digital to greater heights.”

    On her new role, Ghosh said, “FCB Ulka Digital has some great accounts and has been doing clutter breaking work. They have consistently won awards over the last two years from IAMAI, Afaqs, Indian Digital Media Awards, DMAi, etc. I feel proud to join a talented team of digital mavens and look forward to adding powerful and impactful insights.”

    FCB Ulka  Digital client list includes Amul, TCS, Tata Chemicals, Abbott Healthcare, Wipro, ITC, Bausch & Lomb, Nerolac, ICICI Bank, World Vision and Tata Housing to name a few.

     

  • MEC Global Solutions doubles its strategy team in one year

    MEC Global Solutions doubles its strategy team in one year

    MUMBAI: MEC Global Solutions, MEC’s international hub based in London, has made a significant investment in talent, hiring three new faces to join its international strategy team in addition to the three senior strategists already in place.

     

    Chris Worrell, Francis Turner and Filippo Giannelli have been headhunted to further strengthen the team, working on the agency’s international clients including Vodafone, SABMiller, Johnson & Johnson, Beiersdorf and Activision Blizzard.

     

    Worrell, Turner and Giannelli join strategy partners Andy Reynolds and Shula Sinclair, creating a group of diversified talent and experience, headed by Global Solutions and EMEA chief strategy officer Stuart Sullivan-Martin.

     

    Commenting on the appointments, Martin said, “MEC has a heritage of excellence in communications planning, and that’s all about A+ people. The team’s remit includes working with our regional and international clients, spreading the insight derived from our industry leading approach to the consumer purchase journey (MEC Momentum), and working alongside the talented strategists in MEC’s local markets on our new operating system for planning: Thrive5. The number of regional and global media relationships we have with clients is only going to increase – so this is an exciting time and we’re gearing for growth.”

     

    Worrell joins as group strategy director, having more than 10 years’ experience working with clients such as McDonalds, Vodafone, Easyjet and Carlsberg. Previously he was insight director with OMD UK and held a European role with Specific Media. Worrell’s work has been covered by BBC, The Daily Mirror, Wall Street Journal and Sky News, and he is a sought after speaker at international industry events such as IAB Engage and DMEXCO.

     

    Turner joins as strategy director with a background in PR. He has experience working with clients such as Mars Food, John Frieda and Group Lactalis, latterly as planning director at Zenith Optimedia. He is also an aspiring stand-up comedian.

     

    Giannelli joins as a strategist. He comes to MEC from TBWA/OMD working with Apple, and previous to that an independent creative agency in Florence, Italy.

    Shula Sinclair joined MEC as strategy partner in September 2013, from DraftFCB where she was regional planning director. After 17 years in the industry, Sinclair has expertise across numerous sectors including FMCG, finance, automotive, travel, and beauty. She has delivered a range of activity across multiple channels from ATL and digital to PR for a host of major brands including Hyundai, Oreo and Nivea. Her work has been recognised with several industry awards.

     Andy Reynolds joined MEC as strategy partner earlier in 2014. He came from OMD where he was the executive director of strategy working as lead strategist on pan-regional clients such as Sony, PepsiCo and Nissan. He has a strong focus on integrated communications – ATL, digital in all its forms, and branded entertainment. Since joining MEC, his work with Paramount has won several industry awards, notably a gold at the recent M&M awards.

    This announcement follows those made by the agency within digital, data and analytics, and cements MEC Global Solutions’ position as the Centre of International Excellence for clients across the EMEA region.

     

  • Weber Shandwick appoints Valerie Pinto to lead India operations

    Weber Shandwick appoints Valerie Pinto to lead India operations

    MUMBAI: Weber Shandwick has roped in Valerie Pinto to the role of chief executive, effective as of 1 January 2015.  Pinto will report to Weber Shandwick, Asia Pacific chairman Tim Sutton.

     
    In her role, Pinto will have overriding responsibility for the firm’s business in India. Her appointment is part of a broader strategy to build on the agency’s best-in-class India team. She will also join Weber Shandwick’s Asia Pacific senior management board.

     
    Vice Chairman, Atul Ahluwalia will continue in his role. Pinto partners Ahluwalia in Weber Shandwick’s India Leadership Council. The Council also includes managing director of client services, Dilip Yadav; deputy managing director, Carolina Bajaj, and executive vice president, operations, Mabel Phoon who will all report to Pinto. Yadav is also Managing Director, India of Weber Shandwick’s second brand, Creation.

     
    Pinto brings over sixteen years’ experience in communications and reputation management, having previously led Perfect Relations, a leading independent public relations consultancy that gained strong momentum under her leadership in India.  During her distinguished career, she has led strategic counsel to a wide range of companies and executives across numerous industries. She has an outstanding track record in business growth and a particular reputation for effective talent management, having mentored many highly motivated and high performing professionals under her leadership.

     
    Sutton said: “In the last few months, I have spoken to very many senior people in India – at agencies and clients, in media and business – for advice on the very best person to take our business in India to the next stage of market leadership. It was quite remarkable how many of them put Valerie at the very top of their ‘recommendation list’.  She is a class act with a legendary reputation.

     
    “She had many other options at this stage of her career, including running her own business, and I am so thrilled that our vision and ambition have persuaded her to join Weber Shandwick.  This appointment signals our absolute determination to become the market leader in India.

     
    “We are already blessed with a wonderful senior management team assembled by vice chairman Atul Ahluwalia.  They have made Weber Shandwick the most awarded agency in India.”

     
    “I am very delighted to welcome Valerie to our team,” said Ahluwalia. “She brings huge experience and stature with her.”

     

  • Keshet International hires Lucy Roberts as sales manager, CEE

    Keshet International hires Lucy Roberts as sales manager, CEE

    MUMBAI: Keshet International has appointed former BBC Worldwide sales executive Lucy Roberts, to the newly created role of sales manager central and eastern Europe. Roberts will report into sales director CEE & CIS (as well as Africa & Middle East, India, Ireland/UK, Canada and pan-regional broadcasters)  Cynthia Kennedy, to grow KI’s business in the region where she will be responsible for both format and finished tape sales.

     

    Roberts has more than eight years experience in TV distribution having represented the BBC’s diverse formats slate across CEE, Africa, Benelux and Italy and most recently, the entire finished programme catalogue to Russia, Ukraine and the Baltics. During her tenure Roberts sold the entertainment franchise Dancing With the Stars into four new territories including a Nigeria/Ghana co-pro. She also closed deals for several high-end finished dramas such as The Musketeers, Da Vinci’s Demons and Atlantis to an array of broadcasters including Ren TV and TV3 in Russia and 1+1 and Inter in Ukraine. Prior to her the role at the BBC, Lucy was at ITV Global Entertainment from 2006 – 2008.

     

    Keshet International General manager distribution Keren Shahar said, “We are delighted to welcome Lucy to the team, it represents a reunion for her and Cynthia – together, I’m sure they will be a force to be reckoned with! Roberts’ experience in finished programming sales will be particularly valuable to us as we grow this area of our portfolio.”

     

    Roberts added, “Keshet is renowned for being one of the most dynamic, innovative format creators in the world right now and I am really excited to be joining the team at a time when the company is growing and the catalogue is going from strength to strength.”

  • Aakash Aath appoints zonal heads for east and west India

    Aakash Aath appoints zonal heads for east and west India

    KOLKATA: Channel Eight, which re-launched its Bengali general entertainment channel (GEC) Akash Bangla as Aakash Aath last year, has now made two key appointments. While Vamshi Pendyala has been roped in as zonal head – west, Debasish Chattopadhyay is the new zonal head – east.

     

    Pendyala is a media and advertising professional with a rich experience of maximising advertising revenues across genres. Prior to joining Aakash Aath, he worked in Hummra M (CNEB Network) as head, advertising sales – west and south and Narne Networks as national head – advertising.

     

    On the other hand, Chattopadhyay has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, concept selling and advertising sales. Prior to joining the channel, he worked at ETV Network as senior manager and national sales head of ETV Bangla and was involved in strategising, sales and operations.

     

    “Aakash Aath is focusing on maximising the market share in the GEC space. Keeping this in mind we have appointed Vamshi Pendyala and Debasish Chattopadhyay. With their vast experiences, they would help us in achieving our growth target. They would be responsible for stratetigising, developing new areas of business and increasing the advertising revenues for the channel,” said Aakash Aath director Eshita Surana.

     

    Positioned as a GEC, Aakash Aath presents a wide variety of programme including news bulletins (Aakash Barta), catering to audiences across age group.

     

    The programmes on air are Janani (fiction), Good Morning Akash (live musical programme with guest artistes), FM On TV (music programme), Radhuni (cookery contest based show), Shahityer Shera Somoy (screen adaptations of literary classics), Police Filez (crime show based on real life incidents), Hing Ting Chhot (children’s programme), Gaan Doriya (music show) and Ghhente Gha (comedy show).

    The channel also airs blockbuster movies and telefilms. “The channel aims to launch an array of interesting shows in the coming days,” Surana concluded.

  • IBF appoints Uday Shankar as the new president

    IBF appoints Uday Shankar as the new president

    MUMBAI: At the just concluded Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) 15th annual general meeting (AGM), Star India CEO Uday Shankar has been appointed as the new president of the organisation.

     

    The position was earlier held by MSM non executive chairman Man Jit Singh.

     

    This is a comeback for Shankar who held on to the position from 2010 to 2012.

     

    Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Shankar said that he was happy to take charge. “I am privileged to be trusted by the members of IBF to lead the industry body at a critical juncture when the industry needs to leap to the next level by working collaboratively with the Government and other stake holders,”said Shankar and added, “Punit Goenka would have been my personal preference for the president’s role since I have already done a stint as IBF president.  However, in view of Punit’s existing commitment to BARC, he proposed that I hold the reigns at IBF”.

     

    The IBF Board also elected Punit Goenka as vice president – Measurement, N P Singh as vice president – Distribution, Rajat Sharma as vice president – Strategic Affairs and Rahul Johri as treasurer.

  • BBC Worldwide appoints John Williams and Katy Xu for ad sales in Asia

    BBC Worldwide appoints John Williams and Katy Xu for ad sales in Asia

    MUMBAI: BBC Advertising is boosting its ad sales team in Asia to tap into the growing opportunities in the region. Recent studies have predicted strong growth in advertising revenues in Asia Pacific.

     

    Two new roles have been created within the Asia leadership team to get closer to customers and identify new cross-platform opportunities. John Williams has been appointed ASEAN and India vice president, based in Singapore while Katy Xu will be Greater China and North Asia vice president, located in Hong Kong. They both have commenced their new roles from 1 September 2014 and report to BBC Worldwide advertising sales EVP Sunita Rajan.

     

    Williams was earlier located in New York where he was BBC Worldwide North America international advertising VP. Xu takes up an expanded role while currently being Hong Kong and Greater China regional director.

     

    Speaking on their appointment, Rajan said, “With their knowledge and valuable experience in operating across both mature and emerging markets, John and Katy will lead our region to further growth. I am looking forward to working with them to drive the strategic direction and new business across Asia Pacific.”

     

    Williams said, “I am excited about this opportunity to work in one of the most exciting regions in the world with a new team eager for continued success, representing a suite of BBC products that are both in demand by audiences and advertisers alike.”

     

    Katy Xu commented, “BBC is already a successful brand in countries across Asia and I am looking forward to building partnerships in new and existing markets to take our ad sales business to the next level.”

     

    BBC Advertising plans to focus on its key priority markets such as India, China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia.

  • Rakesh Khar joins Network 18 as operations GM

    Rakesh Khar joins Network 18 as operations GM

    MUMBAI: Network 18 has roped in a senior hand to head its operations. Rakesh Khar has recently joined the company as its general manger operations. This is his second stint with the company.

     

    Khar has a rich experience across several news channels over a period of nearly three decades. He has worked as  Zee Media consulting editor and as editor of Zee Research Group, Financial Chronicle as senior editor, Sahara Samay as strategic planning head and network business editor, Zee News executive editor, TV18 assistant editor, The Economic Times corporate editor and the Kashmir Times staff correspondent.

     

    Based out of Delhi, Khar has experience ranging from conceptualisation, execution, operations and strategy. He has built several editorial teams in print and TV news organisations.

     

    In the past couple of months, the network has seen several changes, after its acquisition by Reliance Industries led Mukesh Ambani. 

  • Star CJ appoints Ramakrishnan as the new CFO

    Star CJ appoints Ramakrishnan as the new CFO

    MUMBAI: Star CJ Network, a home shopping network, has announced the appointment of Ramakrishnan. N as its new chief financial officer. Taking charge of his role at Star CJ, Ramakrishnan will play an important part in strengthening the organisation and being part of the team to grow the business.

     

    A qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, Ramakrishnan was the CFO of Foodworld Supermarkets & Health and Glow Retailing based out of Bangalore, immediately before taking up the current assignment. He has over 25 years of work experience in companies of repute including Bunge India and Tata BP Lubricants.

     

    Ramakrishnan said, “I am delighted to be a part of Star CJ. It is a pan India player and is positioned well to capture a larger market share. I look forward to significant growth in business which will further strengthen our position.”

     

    Added Star CJ Network CEO Kenny Shin, “Ramakrishnan’s appointment as the chief financial officer marks the beginning of new and exciting developments in Star CJ. With his knowledge of finance and strategic planning, he is confident of implementing a roadmap to achieve the next level of growth for this company.”