MUMBAI: With the aim of further positioning itself as the preeminent television rights, sales and production house, Octagon CSI has announced the appointment of two senior executives

Australian television executive Michael McKay takes on the role of international production head. Stewart Mison assumes the role of brandcasting VP.

Mison will build a brandcasting division within CSI. This will specialise in the creation, development and implementation of advertiser funded programming (AFP) initiatives. Mison is expected to offer this programming alternative to existing clients within all the divisions of Octagon as well as to sister agencies within the IPG family.

Misons background includes tenure at Trans World International (TWI), the television arm of IMG. At TWI, he ran the barter syndication for the 1994 Winter Olympics and worked closely on broadcast issues with the IOC, Nike and Coca-Cola.

McKay meanwhile will oversee the companys production throughout the world, excluding the Americas. He is expected to build upon Octagons traditional sports production base to include light entertainment and reality style programming.

McKay is familiar with reality programming having served as a producer for CBS reality series The Amazing Race and as executive producer for the innovative docu-reality series Reel Race for Discovery.

Octagon has global expertise in consulting, athletes & personalities, event management, property representation, marketing solutions, licencing and merchandising, talent procurement and television rights and production. Octagon is part of The Interpublic Group.