MUMBAI: CASBAA, Asia’s media association serving the multichannel audio-visual content creation and distribution industry, has announced that Joe Welch has been named as the chairman of its board of directors.

Welch is 21st Century Fox’s senior vice-president of government relations for the Asia-Pacific region. He is responsible for supporting the public policy and regulatory advocacy efforts of 21st Century Fox’s business units across the region.

Previously, Welch served as MCI WorldCom’s Asia director of government affairs, and earlier was an attorney at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C.

“I’m taking on this role at a time when we have a set of positive options at hand, many now in progress, that will make CASBAA sustainable and relevant for the long term,” Welch said. “For some time now, CASBAA has been moving to secure the ability to deliver ‘twin pillar’ services for members: advocacy and anti-piracy. I look forward to working together with the Board and the Executive Office in driving an effective delivery of these pillars while continuing our mission to inform and connect our members.”

Welch replaces outgoing director Jonathan Spink of HBO Asia. Spink was elected the chairman of the board in December 2016, but stepped down recently, at the time stating “…a new vision for CASBAA is needed.” HBO remains a patron member of the association, and Spink expressed confidence that its new direction would “…fit in with the desires and requirements of our industry.”