MUMBAI: MTV Asia Network's kid's channel Nickelodeon Asia has announced three executive promotions with immediate effect to help the companies rapid expansion in Asia.

Richard Cunningham has been promoted to managing director, Lucy Young to vice president, marketing and communications and Hitomi Nagakaki to account director, network development and marketing.

Cunningham, who previously worked with MTV Networks in the United States in the affiliate sales and marketing division, handling distribution for MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and Comedy Central in the western United States, will now be based at Nickelodeon's Asia regional headquarters in Singapore.

Cunningham will oversee Nickelodeon's operations in the Asia Pacific covering markets such Japan, India, Southeast Asia, Philippines and New Zealand. He will continue as senior V-P of MTV Networks Asia overseeing network development, licensing and merchandising for both, MTV and Nickelodeon, besides playing a vital role in overseeing both MTV and VH1 channels in Thailand, according to a company release.

As V-P marketing and communications, Lucy Young, who has successfully guided and developed Nick's marcom activities and initiatives in Asia, will oversee consumer, trade and affiliate marketing as well as pro-social, brand and publicity initiatives in the region. Young will be reporting to Cunningham.

Nagakaki, who has been promoted to account director, network development and marketing has contributed significantly to Nickelodeon's cable and satellite distribution growth in the past two years in Japan. According to the release, she has successfully guided the channel's acquisition of important Japanese animation series and marketing campaigns to boost awareness for Nick in the Japanese market. An ex-employee of producers of Japanese animation feature film Rex Entertainment, Hitomi is currently based in Tokyo and will also be reporting to Cunningham.