Hong Kong – Endemol announced the latest steps in its strategy for growth across Asia. Management across the region is to be restructured with all operations reporting directly into Arjen van Mierlo, CEO of Asian Operations at Endemol Group. Arjen will continue to be based at Endemol Asia’s offices in Hong Kong, which will now also become the head office for the group’s South East Asian business. In addition to the regional head office in Hong Kong Endemol has established leading development and production companies in India and Malaysia, which are behind a significant line up of local hits. The company has also licensed a number of its formats in China and Korea with further announcements pending. As a result of the changes, Edward Sharples, managing director of Endemol South East Asia is stepping down. Arjen comments, “This new structure will strongly position us to further leverage our existing operations in Hong Kong, India and Malaysia whilst pursuing further expansion in Asia including Korea, Japan and Greater China. At the same time we are extremely sad to be losing Ed who launched the South East Asian operation from scratch and built it into a leading content provider to the region. He has played a key role in our success in Asia to date and he will be greatly missed.” Sharples was appointed managing director of Endemol South East Asia in 2004. Since then the operation has grown to become one of the region’s leading content providers having so far secured more than 43 separate deals for 87 series and partnering with 19 broadcasters across seven countries. These include Deal or No Deal in the Philippines (ABS-CBN), Thailand (Channel 3), Malaysia (NTV 7), Indonesia (RCTI), Singapore (MediaCorp) and Cambodia (CTN); Fear Factor in the Philippines (ABS-CBN) and Indonesia (RCTI); 1 vs. 100 in Thailand (Channel 3), The Philippines (ABS-CBN) and Vietnam (VTV 3) and Big Brother in Thailand (ITV) and The Philippines (ABS-CBN).