Scripps Networks Interactive Gets New MD for Asia Pacific

KNOXVILLE: Derek Chang has been named managing director for the Asia Pacific operations of Scripps Networks Interactive.

Chang’s remit includes responsibility for designing and executing growth strategies in the region for Food Network and Travel Channel. He will report to Jim Samples, the president of international for Scripps Networks Interactive. Chang starts in April and will be based in Singapore. He joins Scripps from DIRECTV, where he had responsibility for all content acquisition, original production and programming operation.

“Scripps Networks Interactive has ambitious goals to significantly broaden its presence in Asia, including wider distribution of our lifestyle brands and programming capabilities,” Samples said. “Derek Chang’s expertise and reputation as one of the multi-video industry’s leading strategy and development executives, combined with the strength of the Scripps lifestyle brands, give our company tremendous credibility with distributors and potential business partners throughout the region.”

“Food Network and Travel Channel are content-rich, highly entertaining networks that already are proving to be popular in the Asia Pacific markets where they’ve been launched," Chang commented. “Further, they are the premiere brands in their categories and will serve the company well as we invest in the channels, work to broaden their distribution on all platforms, and explore new business relationships throughout the region.”