SPE Networks—Asia Undergoes Changes in Senior Management

SINGAPORE, January 14: SPE Networks—Asia has appointed
Jack Lim as VP of advertising sales and marketing, replacing Gregory Ho,
following his promotion to channel head of Animax Asia.

As head of the advertising sales and marketing team, Lim
will spearhead the ad sales revenue growth for the company’s four ad-supported
channel brands—AXN, Animax, AXN Beyond and Sony Entertainment Television.
He will also oversee research, marketing services, sales operations and new
business development. Most recently, Lim served as IBM’s communications
director for ASEAN/South Asia.

Meanwhile, Ho has been upped to VP and general manager of
Animax Asia after three years as head of ad sales. As the new channel head, Ho
will oversee all aspects of the channel operations, including programming,
marketing and on-air presentation. Ho joined the company in 1999 as director of
marketing for AXN.

“Jack comes with a wealth of experience in both the
traditional media as well as technology industries,” said Ricky Ow, the general
manager of SPE Networks—Asia. “His knowledge and expertise will position
him well to lead the charge in growing our existing business and to develop new
advertising strategies in this digital media era.

“Gregory has excelled in the various departments that he led
through the years with the company,” continued Ow. “He was instrumental in
building the AXN brand in his initial years, and he also achieved unprecedented
sales revenue growth in the last two years for both AXN and Animax. His passion
for youth marketing, together with his past experience, make him the perfect
person to lead Animax to the next level.”

Ho added: “Japanese animation is one of the fastest growing
entertainment genres for youths and young adults across Asia, its popularity
driven in party by the great influence of J-pop culture in this region.

“The youth landscape is always changing,” continued Ow. “We
have to be ahead of the game in order to capture this audience which has very
diversified interests. Given the mobility of youth today and the rapid
development of new technology, we will continue an aggressive strategy to
increase our touch points with our audience, enabling them to access and
interact with the brand in the new media space.”

—By Ned Berke