Singapore – MediaCorp has announced a number of senior management changes effective 1 April 2009. Current head of Channel News Asia, Woon Tai Ho has decided to pursue other interests. He is succeeded as MD – Channel NewsAsia by Debra Soon, currently chief editor of TV News. As director, international productions Kenneth Liang will head up a new unit focusing on business opportunities in international television content. Liang relinquishes his role as EVP, TV Programming and Production, Channel 5, as Lim Suat Jien becomes EVP – Channel 5 and Okto. Ong Lay Hong, currently a SVP at Channel NewsAsia’s China operations, assumes Lim’s previous responsibilities overseeing MediaCorp’s ethnic TV channels, becoming MD – Suria and Vasantham. Doreen Neo, SVP of studios business distribution unit, will additionally helm a newly formed TV content distribution unit. This unit consolidates all of the company’s distribution activities across all genres – drama, documentaries, info-educational, lifestyle etc. Liang, Neo and Ong and will report to Chang Long Jong, deputy CEO, television. Florence Lian, currently helming communications and marketing activities, will take on the appointment of MD, Radio, from Philip Koh. Koh will focus on his other portfolios as MD, press and media research consultants, as well as undertake certain strategic business development projects. Soon, Lian and Koh will report to Shaun Seow, deputy CEO, news, radio, print. MediaCorp CEO Lucas Chow says, “We need to align our organization structure and leadership to our business strategies. We have a few priorities, like expanding our content business and our international footprint. The changes reflect some of these priorities. They are also the fruition of our succession planning, and I am confident this will boost our management bench strength.”