Warner Bros. rejigs TV distribution with Australia-based Tony Cornish set to depart

Warner Bros. has rejigged its Worldwide Television Distribution team in South East Asia, with a promotion for South Korea-based Jae H. Chang and the departure of long-standing Sydney-based exec Tony Cornish.

Chang becomes SVP for South East Asia and Korea sales at Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) and will continue to report to Robert Blair, president of the US studio’s International Television Distribution arm.

The exec, who has been based in Korea for the past 12 years overseeing TV sales in the country, will relocate to Singapore where he will establish an office and expand his aegis to include the South East Asian region, in addition to Korea.

As part of the restructure, Cornish, VP of sales, will be leaving the company at the end of March 2020 following a transition.

“During Jae’s 12 years with our company, he has done a great job building our business in Korea and Asia. With this move to Singapore, he will be closer to our clients and located with our colleagues from WarnerMedia Entertainment – enabling us to better align our networks and content licensing business,” said Jeffrey Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution.

“We look forward to Jae successfully growing our business in the region in his new role during this time of great opportunity for content distribution,” he added.

Schlesinger described Cornish as “a loyal and valued member of our team for the last 18 years, making many contributions to our division significantly growing our business in Asia and, more recently, India.”

“He is known to everyone as a professional, passionate executive and is very well respected by both his colleagues and clients. Needless to say, he will be missed.”

Chang worked for Korean giant CJ Entertainment and Media for five years before joining WBITD in early 2008 as director of sales, where he managed TV licensing activity in Korea in addition to Warner Channel carriage deals and branded services deals in South East Asia. He was promoted to VP of television sales in 2015.