| MUMBAI:
BBC Worldwide Channels MD Darren Childs has announced the appointment of Mark
Whitehead as BBC Worldwide Channels Asia GM, senior VP. Based
in Singapore, Whitehead will take on responsibility for the reach, ratings and
revenue of BBC Worldwide Channels' operations across the Asia Pacific region and
India, and will spearhead the distribution of the six-strong portfolio of BBC
branded channels – BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies,
BBC HD and BBC World News. Whitehead
will take up his new position at the end of this month. BBC
Worldwide Channels has established a foothold in Asia, since the launch of BBC
Entertainment throughout the region in October 2006. In 2007 CBeebies, BBC Knowledge
and BBC Lifestyle were launched in Singapore and Hong Kong, while last year saw
the launch of CBeebies and BBC Knowledge in Indonesia, as well as the debut of
BBC HD as a VOD service in Taiwan, and the launch of BBC Knowledge in South Korea. Childs
says, "We have grown the channels business rapidly over the last few years
and have plans for further growth in the region. Our ambition for Asia is now
greater than ever and we are very fortunate to have attracted an executive of
Mark’s calibre to lead this next stage of growth. I'm delighted to welcome
him to our senior management team." Whitehead
says, "This is a great opportunity to work with one of the world's most respected
television brands and be part of the expansion of the BBC Worldwide Channels business
in Asia Pacific. I am delighted to be joining the senior management team at such
an exciting time in the growth of the business." Whitehead
was most recently Discovery Networks Asia senior VP for revenue. During his time
at Discovery, he launched the first Asia Discovery HD services in Korea and Singapore,
and negotiated and renewed distribution deals with cable, satellite and broadband
operators in numerous countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
and Indonesia. | 
