MUMBAI: Fox Networks Group (FNG) Asia has named media the industry veteran Mike Rich as the executive vice president, advertising sales & content partnerships for Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The company also announced that Simeon Dawes, who has been keen to focus full-time on his other business interest, will leave the group by the end of April.
In this enhanced role, Rich will lead teams across the region to identify new revenue streams for FNG Asia and its content partners, and to further strengthen FNG’s position as a leader in advertising innovation. He will report to Fox Network Groups Asia president Zubin Gandevia.
Rich has more than 25 years of media and marketing experience in agency and client roles, and he brings to FNG Asia a keen understanding of the content and media industry across the US, Europe and Asia. He most recently served as Global President of Publicis Media’s Content Ventures division. Prior to that, he was CEO of GroupM Asia’s content business. Rich has also consulted for a multitude of major rights owners.
Rich’s appointment follows the earlier hiring of Italo Zanzi as executive vice-president and managing director for Fox Sports as the group has been working to strengthen its sports, advertising sales and content creation teams across the region.
Gandevia said, “With an incredible portfolio of channel brands and the world’s greatest television programming, Fox has a unique opportunity to leverage its assets to expand and develop existing and new revenue streams in Asia. Simeon has been a key figure in building the Fox business in Asia and I want to thank him for everything he has done for us and wish him all the best. At the same time we are delighted that Mike is joining us to contribute his wealth of experience with brands, agencies and content to help us continue delivering innovative solutions and ignite our full commercial potential.”
Rich said, “The quality of global TV has never been better, and Fox is perfectly positioned to drive greater outcomes for consumers and commercial partners alike. Fox and I have ambitious plans in the content creation and digital distribution arenas, and I could not be happier to join such a forward-thinking global media business.”
Dawes added, “The time is right for me to focus on my other business interest as I’m able to leave Fox knowing that with Mike and Italo the right people are in place. For the past seven years I have also had an interest in building a health and nutrition distribution business and now I can turn my full attention to leading and growing that, something I’ve been keen to do for some time.”
