VIMN Bolsters AsiaPac Management Team

SINGAPORE/SYDNEY: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has made a trio of executive appointments to the company’s management team in the Asia Pacific, all of which are effective October 1.

Paras Sharma, previously senior VP of MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Channel brands, and digital media for Asia, is becoming senior VP and general manager for Southeast Asia (SEA). He will continue to work directly under Mark Whitehead, the executive VP and managing director of VIMN Asia Pacific.

Simon Bates, VP of MTV, Comedy Central and Spike brands for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), has been named VP and head of MTV Asia Pacific, and Comedy Central and Spike for ANZ. He will report to Whitehead for his MTV regional role, and Ben Richardson, senior VP and general manager in ANZ, for his local brand management of MTV, Comedy Central and Spike.

Kirsty Bloore, research director for ANZ, has been elevated to senior director of research for the Asia-Pacific region. Bloore will work under Amit Arora, the VP of strategy and business development for AsiaPac, and Richardson for ANZ research support.

Whitehead remarked: “I am delighted to announce leadership changes that further strengthen our existing leadership team in the region. Their appointments demonstrate how we’re combining the best talent and assets as we maximize operational and creative expertise in the company.”