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Sony Pictures shakes up international ops; Vocus reshuffles after CEO's exit

S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a monthly rundown of executive and board changes in the Asia-Pacific technology, media and communications industries.

Top news

* Sony Pictures Television Inc. revealed several changes within the senior management of its international production division, including the appointment of Brendan Fitzgerald in the new role of senior vice president of international co-productions, Deadline reported Feb. 19. The Sony Corp. unit also promoted Richard Parsons to executive vice president of international operations, while Cheryl Lynch was elevated to executive vice president of international business affairs. Meanwhile, Angélica Guerra, senior vice president and managing director of international production for Latin America and U.S. Hispanic, will join the senior management team of Sony Pictures Television International Production.

* Vocus Group Ltd. announced March 5 the appointment of Bob Mansfield, board deputy chairman and lead independent director, as independent, nonexecutive chairman. Mansfield will replace outgoing chairman Vaughan Bowen, who said that this is the "appropriate time" for him to resign from the board. Vocus Deputy Chairman Craig Farrow will also quit the board of the Australian telco. Vocus earlier lost Geoff Horth, the company's CEO since February 2016. The role of interim CEO was assumed by Michael Simmons, current chief executive of Vocus' wholesale and international division, according to a Feb. 26 announcement.

* Netmarble Games Corp. named Park Sean as CEO, Yonhap News Agency reports. Park will serve as co-head of the company with incumbent chief Kwon Young-sig. Kwon will run Netmarble's game business while Park, the former chief strategy officer of mobile messenger service Kakao Talk, will direct the company's strategy and investment.

Media industry moves

* Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. appointed Sanjay Narayanan as theatrical marketing head in India, overseeing the marketing campaigns for the company's slate of theatrical releases in the country, Television Post reported March 5. Lions Gate also appointed Maitreyee Dasgupta as creative head in India, Variety reported Feb. 13. Dasgupta will oversee local productions and co-productions across the company's film, TV and digital platforms under the Lionsgate and Starz brands.

* News Corp Australia Pty. Ltd. made more changes to its digital team following the abrupt exit of chief digital officer Nicole Sheffield, Mumbrella reported Feb. 28. Julian Delany, managing director of News DNA, will expand his responsibility to include digital, while Dominic Hatfield, chief technology officer, will assume the new role of chief information officer.

* Ten Network Holdings Ltd.'s Network Ten said Feb. 22 that it appointed Mel Cornford as managing editor of ten daily, the broadcaster's yet-to-be-launched entertainment and lifestyle website. Cornford joined Ten in 2016 as project lead on ten daily, and has been developing the site since then.

* Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s Asia-Pacific operations expanded its finance team by appointing David Liu as senior finance director and Joseph Tan as finance director for its Southeast Asia business, Advanced Television reported Feb. 20. Prior to joining Turner, Liu was the head of finance for NBA Asia and India, while Tan was finance director of Publicis Communications Singapore.

Communications industry moves

* Maxis Bhd. appointed Robert Nason as interim CEO and executive director, effective April 1. Nason, who relinquished his roles as chairman and member of the audit committee and chairman of the business and IT transformation committee, will hold the position until a new chief executive has been appointed.

* Nehemiah Richardson, Telstra Corp. Ltd.'s M&A boss since December 2015, is leaving the company but declined to comment on where he was headed next, The Australian Financial Review reported March 5.

* Aircel Cellular Ltd. and its two units, Dishnet Wireless Ltd. and Aircel Ltd., have filed for bankruptcy. The 5,000 employees expected to be impacted by Aircel's demise are now preparing for the possibility of being laid off. Meanwhile, Aircel executives Vipul Saurabh, national head for operations and customer services, and Anupam Vasudev, the company's chief marketing officer, have reportedly resigned, people close to the development told The Economic Times.

* AsiaSat on Feb. 22 named Ellen Yeung as its new director of information technology. Prior to joining AsiaSat, Yeung held senior positions in Hong Kong Productivity Council and Hong Kong Jockey Club, where she led and managed the development and implementation of IT services. The company also promoted Lara Kwok to vice president of business development and strategy following the retirement of Sabrina Cubbon.

* Telekom Malaysia said Feb. 19 that Dato' Mohd Rais Azhar will succeed Dato' Rafaai Samsi as the company's chief technology and innovation officer.

* U Mobile appointed Neil Tomkinson as chief information officer, Sun Daily reported Feb. 19. Tomkinson, who replaces outgoing CIO Tan Chen Sen, previously worked for South Africa-based telco MTN Next!. The Malaysian telco also appointed Woon Ooi Yuen as deputy chief technology officer. He joins U Mobile with related experience from companies such as Total Access Communication Public Co. Ltd. and DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.

* Rhee Injong, former executive vice president of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., has been appointed as entrepreneur-in-residence at Google Inc.'s headquarters. He is expected to oversee the Alphabet Inc. unit's internet of things business, Money Today reported Feb. 12.

Technology industry moves

* Xero Ltd. founder Rod Drury is handing over the CEO reins to Steve Vamos, a former senior executive of Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc.'s Australian business, The Australian reported March 6.

* Grab announced March 5 the appointment of Tarin Thaniyavarn as the new country head of Grab Thailand, effective April 1. Thaniyavarn, who previously was executive vice president for group strategy and government relations at Lazada, succeeds Yee Wee Tang, who now assumes the position of country head of Grab Cambodia.

* Nick Nash is stepping down as group president of Sea Ltd. at the end of 2018 to establish his own startup fund, TechCrunch reported Feb. 28.

* Cisco Systems Inc. on Feb. 23 announced the appointment of Miyuki Suzuki as president for Asia-Pacific and Japan, promoting her from chief of Cisco Japan. She replaces Irving Tan, who took over the newly created role of senior vice president of operations and digital.