MUMBAI: Star has created a new post to handle government and regulatory affairs. Joe Welch has been appointed as senior vice president government affairs, and will oversee public policy issues related to Star's operations.

"We are expanding in China and Taiwan. There is a need to understand the regulatory climate in these and the other Asian markets where we are present," a source in Star said. India, however will not fall under Welch's supervision at the moment, the source added.

Welch will report to Star CEO Michelle Guthrie.

Welch was previously the regional director of government and regulatory affairs for MCI Asia Pacific with responsibility for the company's operations in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Mainland China, Australia, Singapore, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

Prior to joining MCI in 2000, Welch served as Telecommunications Business Consultant for Booz Allen & Hamilton, working in its Thai, Indonesian and Singapore offices. Welch also worked closely with key Malaysian policy makers to develop plans for the regulation of the country's telecom and media sectors.

Educated in the US, Welch holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science from Amherst College in Massachusetts and a law degree from Santa Clara University, California.