Warner Bros. Discovery makes Western Pacific appointments

As the post-merger restructuring continues, Warner Bros. Discovery has appointed Gillian Zhao as president of its China operations. Tony Qiu is appointed SVP head of commercial, Western Pacific. Both positions report to James Gibbons, president and MD, WBD, in the Western Pacific region, which it defines as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and China, and spans the group’s portfolio, including pay-TV, free-to-air television, theatrical, studios, direct-to-consumer and consumer products.

A Warner Bros. veteran, who was named as Warner’s EVP in China in 2016, Zhao’s task is to lead “the strategic growth of WBD’s theatrical, TV distribution, home entertainment and local theatrical production businesses in China.”

Qiu’s position is described as a “new regional role with oversight of key lines of revenue for Western Pacific.” In addition to ad sales and games management in China, Qiu will also lead the consumer products business in China, Australia and New Zealand and be expected to drive the international ad sales function for the region as a whole. In June this year he was named as part of Clement Schwebig’s executive lineup in WBD’s India, Southeast Asia and Korea group with additional responsibility in China.

“The combination of assets in Western Pacific markets creates significant creative and commercial opportunities across our diverse WBD portfolio,” said Gibbons in a statement. yahoo! finance