ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s largest sports broadcaster, announced its senior executive promotions, kicking off its fiscal year 2000 with a strong management team. Among the executives, key promotions include Adam Zecha as Vice President of International Sales; Sally Chadwick as Vice President of Marketing, Asia; and Bernice Tan who is now the Director of Program Acquisitions.
Alexander Brown, Managing Director of ESPN STAR Sports said, ‘It’s been a challenging time for the industry for past couple of years. But despite all that, the ESS team has pulled together to come up with better than expected company performance. It is hard work and in particular these outstanding individuals who, in their new positions, will continue to contribute significantly to the company’.
Brown also added that he is positive about the future and the promotions further strengthen the team who will ensure the company’s leading position in sports broadcasting.
To date, ESPN STAR Sports and its affiliate companies employ some 400 staff in Asia. With its headquarters in Singapore, the other offices are in Hong Kong, India, Taiwan and China.
Adam Zecha to Vice President, International Sales
ESPN STAR Sports has promoted Adam Zecha from Director to Vice President, International Sales. ‘Zecha has been with the company for three years with responsibilities for cable systems, hotels and syndication sales for 16 markets in ESPN STAR Sports’ region of operation including ASEAN countries, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea. With the promotion, Zecha’s responsibilities also include Hong Kong and Macau’.
Zecha first joined ESPN Asia as International Sales Director in April 1996. Prior to this, Zecha spent two years in Malaysia managing an advertising and public relations agency after spending six years in Los Angeles working in the same industry. ‘Between that, he spent one year with the Dow Jones Television Group, based in Hong Kong and assisting with launch of the Asia Business News’.
Sally Chadwick to Vice President, Marketing – Asia
ESPN STAR Sports has promoted Sally Chadwick from Director to Vice President, Marketing. Chadwick, with 10 years cable and satellite industry experience, will in her new role continue to drive the company’s marketing strategy across the Asia region, with increased emphasis on an integrated approach – on line, on air, on ground and off air. Sally began her career with ESPN Asia (S) Private Ltd. Hong Kong in Jan 1996 as Manager, Marketing. In April 1998, she was promoted to Director based in Singapore.
On ground, Chadwick’s team is planning a series of on-ground events for China where both channels are widely distributed and ESPN being the most widely distributed channel in China (Boston Consulting Group study,1997). One of such events is ESPN STAR Sports’ Playzone – the hugely successful on-ground sporting experience which ESS has run in India last year.
On-line, ESS marketing’s priority in the next few months will be placed www.espnstar.com, making it the company’s sports portal of Asia. To date, traffic to this site has already reached one impression per second.
Bernice Tan to Director, Program Acquisitions
Bernice Tan has been promoted from Manager to Director, Program Acquisitions. As Director, Tan will be responsible for developing the strategy and executing sports programming for the ESPN and STAR Sports channels.
Tan joined ESPN Asia (S) Private Ltd as Manager, Acquisitions in January 1996. Since then, she worked on a variety of major acquisitions including the UEFA Champions League, Spanish Football and the Asian Games. Tan was also very involved in the major undertaking of integrating the programming systems of both networks V ESPN and STAR Sports at the time of the joint venture.á Prior to 1996, Tan was working in a sports marketing company, managing its programming and production.
Tan’s first foray into broadcasting was when she completed her varsity thesis on the technological, social and cultural impact of STAR TV’s position as the first pan-Asian direct broadcasting satellite station.
For further information, please contact:
Jessica Lee, Director, Corporate Communications, ESPN STAR Sports
e-mail: leej@espnstar.comá Tel : +(65) 488 6132
OR, Anna Lee, Corporate Communications Manager, ESPN STAR Sports
e-mail: leea@espnstar.com