WarnerMedia International has revealed its new-look and plans for India, Southeast Asia and Korea, strengthening its leadership position and commitment to the region.
This brings together WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks comprising the legacy of Turner and HBO businesses with Warner Bros. including theatrical distribution, TV syndication, home entertainment as well as consumer products, gaming and location-based entertainment.
The entertainment conglomerate forms one of the most powerful integrated entertainment media operations in the region, including TV brands (HBO, Cartoon Network and CNN), the HBO GO streaming service, and hugely popular Warner Bros. franchises like Looney Tunes and the entire DC universe. The organisation will be helmed by WarnerMedia India, Southeast Asia and Korea head Clement Schwebig.
Commenting on the announcement of his leadership team, Schwebig stated, “We have tremendous depth and breadth of talent across our organisation, and combined, we are definitely better. We’ve put in place a unique organisational structure for growth that is designed to sharpen our focus on the consumer and build stronger relationships with our local partners. Integrating our commercial activities, content and marketing functions will enable us to leverage our enhanced scale and bigger footprint of consumer touchpoints across our varied businesses, brands, franchises and platforms.”
The leadership team for the region is as follows:
Lines of Business
> Yasmin Zahid to head affiliate & B2B distribution for all WarnerMedia linear TV networks including HBO channels, CNN International, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, POGO, Warner TV and Oh!K, as well as lead B2B carriage partnerships for the HBO GO streaming service.
> David Simonsen will continue to lead the development of HBO GO in Southeast Asia, working closely with Johannes Larcher’s global HBO Max team to lay the foundation for its future launch.
> Jae Chang leads TV distribution and home entertainment, overseeing all physical and digital distribution licensing for all WarnerMedia content in the region.
> Vikram Sharma looks after consumer products, advertising and partnerships leading both the licensing and merchandising business for all WarnerMedia IPs, brands and franchises, as well as the advertising sales business for all WarnerMedia brands on all platforms linear and digital.
> A new lead for theatrical distribution is being identified. In the meantime, all country managing directors will report directly into Clement Schwebig.
Functions
> Magdalene Ew takes charge of the company’s consolidated entertainment pillar including all HBO channels, Warner TV and Oh!K as well as Ding Ji Theatre in China. She will also oversee all entertainment original productions in the region, including HBO Asia Originals.
> Athreyan Sundararajan leads an integrated group marketing team for all WarnerMedia business, including advertising and distribution sales trade, consumer and brand as well as theatrical. Creative services and social Media will also report into him.
> Shonali Bedi helms strategy and operations including all transformation initiatives in the region and also takes on expanded responsibilities for Research and Insights.
> Leslie Lee continues to lead all the kids brands for WarnerMedia across Asia Pacific, including India, Southeast Asia and Korea.
With these changes and the new organisation structure, WarnerMedia SVP and MD South Asia Siddharth Jain, and entertainment SVP of original productions Jessica Kam will be leaving the organisation.
Schwebig further added, “We owe Sid [Jain] and Kam a huge debt of gratitude for the many years of significant contribution they have made to WarnerMedia. They have each in their own way left a lasting legacy and helped build an incredible foundation for the future of our businesses.”
