BBC World deputy director airtime sales Sunita Rajan was quoted as saying: 'I am delighted to have two great people join our teams in Asia at a very exciting period of growth for the channel in this key region. Both Sarah, with her considerable experience working for BBC World in London; and Simon with his in-depth knowledge of the market, will be great assets to grow our airtime sales operation here."

Simon Page has been appointed as the new account director, North Asia based in Hong Kong and Sarah Green has been appointed as account manager, airtime sales based in Singapore.

A press release says that Page will work closely with BBC World deputy director airtime sales Rajan, as part of the pan-Asian sales team. His mandate will be to build on BBC World's existing client base and attract new advertisers and sponsors to the channel. He will team up with north Asia account manager Pierre Cheung.

Page had earlier worked with the Dow Jones group for a period of seven years. His responsibilities during that particular stint included handling advertising sales for the Far Eastern Economic Review and developing advertising markets such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The release adds that Green has been transferred from BBC World's London headquarters where she had a three-year stint as senior account executive. She will seek to apply the skills and experience gained while working in the London market and on PETV accounts to the Asian and Australasian markets.

Green, an ex-ad agency executive, will assist Rajan in driving the channel's international business from Australia and New Zealand. She will also work with the media buying agency MCn. Green had earlier worked with Zenith Media in London.