BBC Studios restructures in Asia & creates new SVP of content role

Phil Hardman

BBC Studios (BBCS) has restructured its operations in India, South East Asia, Japan and Korea, appointing one of its existing execs to oversee the new division and creating a new SVP of content role in the region.

Phil Hardman becomes SVP & GM for Asia at BBCS, with a remit across the global distribution teams working in Singapore, Mumbai and Seoul. He is also responsible for developing the growth strategy across the region, with a focus on India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

He reports into BBCS’s EVP for APAC Jon Penn, who said the revamp was designed to create a “simpler, more agile” structure in the region.

Hardman was most recently SVP of commercial strategy for Asia and last year also took on the acting lead role of SVP & GM Greater China, which was filled by Ding Ke.

New-look APAC & content role

The revamp means there are now three regional chiefs reporting into Penn: Hardman is SVP & GM Asia; Ding Ke is SVP & GM Greater China; and Fiona Lang is GM Australia & New Zealand. A new strategy manager for Asia will also be appointed to support the region and report into Penn.

Ryan Shiotani

Ryan Shiotani, meanwhile, will move from his current role as SVP & GM of South and South East Asia to become SVP of content, Asia & Greater China.

He will be the regional editorial lead across existing and new branded services, as well as advising on brand and content strategy in Asia and Greater China.

Shiotani joined BBC Studios (then BBC Worldwide) in 2007 as director of programming for Asia, and has since worked across brands including BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, BBC First, CBeebies and BBC Player across linear and digital platforms. He also works closely with Sony BBC Earth, BBCS’s joint venture with Sony Pictures Networks India.

Penn said: “Phil has demonstrated through his contribution over recent years that he is a strategic thinker and leader who will help turbo-charge our growth in the region. Along with Fiona and Ding Ke, I have three formidable commercial leaders in APAC who will help us identify and build on the opportunities in this rapidly evolving market.

“The key to our success lies in our premium offering and I am pleased that Ryan, who is a consummate content expert, will be our editorial lead, working across our services and brands in Asia and Greater China.”

BBCS is still on the look-out for a new CEO after former chief Tim Davie to charge of UK public broadcaster the BBC last year.