PEOPLE ON THE MOVE - April, May, June 2005

AMtech Expands Expertise

AMtech Australia has appointed Rodney Sammut to its team of Sales Engineers to focus primarily on new business development. Sammut joins AMtech with over 25 years experience including Channel Nine, Sony and Videocraft.
AMtech have also restructured their Engineering Department with the promotion of Ed Cousins from Customer Support Engineer to Engineering Manager, and appointed Frank Wenzl as Sales Engineer for T&M products. Wenzl was formerly with AdCoCom, Germany, and was responsible for design of their DVB-T Test Set.

Amber Dedicated to EVS

EVS Broadcast Equipment has renewed his distribution agreement with Amber Technology for the Australian market. Steve Wakeford has been appointed in Amber as EVS Operation Manager.

Contact him on +61-(0)2-9452 8600. Mobile: +61-(0)404- 281 966.
Email: australia@evs.tv

STAR Announces New Joint Ventures Team

STAR has announced the formation of a new division called STAR Ventures to manage and maximize the value of the company’s increasing portfolio of joint ventures. Based in Hong Kong, STAR Ventures is headed by Senior Vice President May Oh.
STAR Ventures oversees STAR's joint venture partnerships. STAR's key partnerships include ESPN STAR SPORTS, Phoenix Satellite Television, STAR NEWS, Balaji Telefilms, Hathway Cable, China Network Systems and India DTH.
Commenting on the new division, Michelle Guthrie, CEO of STAR, said, “In the past few years, STAR’s network of partnerships has grown as we have expanded our business in Asia. These partnerships have contributed significantly to our overall development and I have no doubt STAR Ventures will unlock more value to the mutual benefit of STAR and our partners.”
May Oh, Senior Vice President of STAR Ventures, said, “STAR’s strategic partnerships have enabled us to break new ground, increasing our reach and enhancing our content to consumers. I look forward to working even more closely with our partners to execute our joint vision and aligning our interests.”
Oh is a five-year veteran of STAR. Most recently, she was Vice President of Distribution, responsible for managing the distribution and marketing of STAR's channels in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and the Middle East. Before that, she worked with China Network Systems where she oversaw the digitisation of the company’s cable systems in Taiwan. Prior to joining STAR, Oh worked with FOXTEL, managing its business development and business analysis teams in Australia. She earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia.

HBO Asia's Murrell to Head Hollywood's LaserPacific

US post-production company, LaserPacific has announced that Dan Murrell has joined the company as chairman and chief executive officer.
Murrell brings 20 years of entertainment industry experience to LaserPacific, a Kodak subsidiary. Since 1997, Murrell was CEO of Home Box Office Asia, a joint venture of Warner Bros., Sony, Universal, Paramount and HBO, where he helped build and grow the cable network with operations in 27 countries. Prior to HBO, Murrell held senior positions within TCI Cablevision where he focused on marketing, technical operations and customer
service.
Murrell will report to Bertrand Decoux, general manager of Kodak Entertainment Imaging Services.
"Dan Murrell has been a visionary leader in the highly competitive digital entertainment marketplace for many years," says Decoux. "His track record in driving technology and enhancing customer experiences adds a new dimension to our management team and company vision as a digital service provider for the entertainment film industry."
Murrell will focus on long-term growth, strategic planning and business opportunities. He will also help to guide LaserPacific's existing senior management team. Senior leaders Leon Silverman, Randy Blim and Jane Swearingen have over 75 collective years of experience with the company, and will continue to oversee LaserPacific's day-to-day operations.
Silverman has been named LaserPacific's president. Blim and Swearingen, both senior vice presidents, have been appointed chief technical officer and chief operating officer, respectively. They will report to Murrell in their new management roles.
"Kodak has a tremendous amount of faith in the senior leaders of LaserPacific, and great expectations for them as Dan Murrell joins the team," says Decoux. "Bringing Dan into the CEO position creates a talented new team, combining a culture of innovation with experience in technology-driven customer service businesses. This team is extremely qualified to spur growth at LaserPacific by creating value for our customers."

IABM APPOINTS ROGER CRUMPTON AS CEO

The International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM), the trade association that represents vendors in the broadcast and electronic media industry, today announced the appointment of Roger Crumpton as CEO, effective 1st April 2005. Following on from the successful IABM05 Conference in January - Making It in the Broadcast Business - this appointment cements the IABM's commitment to its members and the industry as the premier trade association.
Roger was most recently European Managing Director of AIIM, the US-based Enterprise Content Management Association. Prior to that, he was General Manager of the Computing Suppliers Federation. Roger's background is in the sales and manufacturing of electronic and IT products, specialising in high performance graphic displays. He has over 20 years board experience, including five years as a PLC board member, and has also established, managed and subsequently divested a technology-based events business. His wide experience of managing exhibitions and conferences on a regional, national and international basis will be of enormous value to the IABM - both now and in the future.
"I'm truly excited about this opportunity - and the challenge. I believe the IABM has a unique opportunity and a pivotal role in the rapid changes taking place in the broadcasting technology sector", explained Roger. "So far, the response to my appointment has been very encouraging and I'm looking forward to meeting many of the members at NAB and discussing how the IABM can assist them even further."
"We are delighted that Roger has decided to join us. This appointment is the critical first step in moving to a comprehensive executive, management and secretariat capability for the IABM", explained Martin Salter, IABM Executive Sub-Committee Chairman. He added, "It's part of our strategy to continue to develop and grow the Association to meet the challenges facing the international broadcasting sector over the next five and beyond years, and with Roger's vast experience and knowledge, we are perfectly placed to execute that plan."
The IABM was founded in 1976 to represent the interests of companies taking space at international broadcasting equipment exhibitions. Now with over 180 members, the IABM provides a valuable source of information relating to all matters affecting its members' interests, offering advice on recruitment, training, and legal matters and providing a comprehensive source of technical information to its members. The IABM will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year

Visit www.theiabm.org.

Jusoh Manages Customer Service for NTL Asia Pacific

NTL Asia Pacific, a regional provider of broadcast services, has announced that it has appointed Yusman Jusoh as its new Customer Service Manager, Asia Pacific.
NTL Asia Pacific provides consultancy, propagation planning and outsourced network operations and maintenance for regional broadcasters and governments. Jusoh will be responsible primarily for Operations and Maintenance in NTL Malaysia, before looking outwards to the Asia Pacific region. He will also be part of the Business Development Division.
Jusoh joined NTL Asia Pacific in July 2004 and was assigned to the Network Operations Division as Operations Manager, Malaysia. His main responsibility then was to ensure the smooth operations of Natseven TV Sdn Bhd (ntv7) transmission, the standards and operational procedures for the management of the ntv7 network and the setting up the of the monitoring system at the NTL KL Network Control Centre.
ntv7, a leading television station in Malaysia, is a current client of NTL Asia Pacific.
Prior to joining NTL Asia Pacific, Jusoh managed several projects on the construction side of the telecommunications industry, in the civil, mechanical and tower works for providers in Malaysia such as Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Maxis Communications Berhad.
Jusoh’s impressive resume also includes a career advancement stint in the United States, where he worked as a consultant for major telecommunications provider Nextel in New York and Connecticut, USA.
In recognition of the vital role that he is filling in supporting NTL customers, Jusoh will report directly to the Managing Director, NTL Asia Pacific, Mr. Patrick Duffy.
"We are pleased to add such a strong and experienced executive to lead this critical business unit," said Duffy. "Jusoh's extensive awareness of the broadcast industry, its business operations and the mission critical nature of our customer’s transmission will be invaluable in fostering the strong momentum we have gained for the region. The appointment of very capable in-house talent to take on a top management position is part of our corporate efforts in strategic reorganisation and localisation."
“We are currently expanding our Asia Pacific’s focus on outsourced operations and maintenance of broadcasters’ mission critical transmission networks. As such, we will be restructuring and also recruiting experienced support staff for our 24 x 7 monitoring centre in Kuala Lumpur,” Duffy added.
Jusoh graduated from University Technology Malaysia in Bachelor in Electrical (Communication) in August 1997. NTL Asia Pacific became a wholly independent business in June 2004 when the current management acquired 100 percent of the Asia Pacific business and assets from NTL Broadcast. This includes the offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. NTL Asia Pacific has grown from a start-up in 1999 to being a leader in its field as an established commercial enterprise with independent management resources, a strong regional customer base and order book.

Visit www.ap.ntl.com

Back to Industry News Archive April, May, June 2005