LONDON: Associated Press (AP) has announced its expansion, with the establishment of its newly named division AP International. The new division is charged with expanding AP's revenue opportunities outside the US.

AP has named CEO of its international video service Ian Ritchie to be vice-president of global business and managing director of AP International.

Ritchie who presently heads Associated Press Television News (APTN) in London, will report to John Keitt, senior vice president for global business.

A company release quotes Keitt as saying, "This is an exciting opportunity for all of us at AP. Ritchie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to help direct AP's new growth abroad."

In addition to pursuing growth and revenue opportunities, AP International will coordinate with regional and New York news executives to add depth and breadth to AP's global coverage. AP International will also include AP's London-based video news operation, which was launched in 1994 and now serves hundreds of broadcasters around the globe, the release specifies.

Ritchie became APTN's CEO in 2000. He came to AP from Middle East Broadcasting Limited (MBC) where he was responsible for television, radio, and transmission of digital and cable operations in the Middle East.

Prior to that, Ritchie was the CEO of Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited. He also served as an executive at Granada Television, Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television, Central Television's Nottingham Studios and London News Network.

AP has more than 240 bureaus world over, providing news content in text, audio, video, graphics and photos to more than 15,000 news outlets with a daily reach of 1 billion people worldwide.