MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has announced key changes to its management team. The aim is to strengthen its operations across China and Taiwan while furthering the networks Greater China strategy.

Kathy Sun has been appointed ESS Greater China MD. She previously served as ESS Taiwan MD. In her expanded role, Sun will assume overall responsibility for ad sales, distribution, marketing, event management and business development across the Greater China region.

ESS China MD David Cantalupo will continue in his role heading up all the China operations. They include distribution, ad sales, and multimedia ventures. He reports to Sun. As of now a MD for Taiwan has not been appointed.

ESS MD Rik Dovey said, "The company is growing from strength to strength. These management changes are expected to spur us to the next stage of growth. Kathy has played a vital role in building our Taiwan business, demonstrating her ability in some of the toughest situations in the market.

"Her experience operating sports and media businesses will be invaluable in the companys objectives of growing demand for our on-air networks across Greater China as well as developing new cross straits business opportunities. I have a great deal of confidence in her ability to lead ESPN Star Sports overall Greater China initiative."'

Cantalupo has been the impetus behind the significant distribution growth of ESS in China through collaborative efforts with local media partners such as Hunan Satellite and Hainan Travel Satellite. He has also been instrumental in the formation of Chinas first directly foreign invested Internet and new media joint venture, espnstar.com.