BBC WW names Japan president

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the British public broadcaster, has appointed former Sony executive Ken Munekata as president, Japan.

Munekata will be based in Tokyo and will report to Joyce Yeung, general manager and senior vice-president, BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution Asia. He will work across the company’s sales and distribution business, consumer products, and live events and will also have strategic oversight of developing BBC Worldwide Channels opportunities in Japan, working with Mark Whitehead, senior vice president and general manager, BBC Worldwide Channels Asia.

Munekata was formerly president, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Japan and president, Sony Broadcast Media and he succeeds Katsuhiko Waza, who retired last year.

Yeung said: “I’m delighted that Ken will be heading up our business in Japan. With his extensive management and business development experience in the Japanese media industry, I’m confident he will bring new growth opportunities to BBC Worldwide Japan and create collaboration with other Asian territories.”