Ken Munekata has been appointed President of BBC Worldwide Japan, effective immediately.  He joins BBC Worldwide after nearly three decades at Sony Corporation, where he most recently held two roles concurrently – President of Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and President of Sony Broadcast Media.

Based in Tokyo, Munekata will report to Joyce Yeung, General Manager & Senior Vice President, BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution Asia.  He will be responsible for leading the commercial activities and strategic development for BBC Worldwide across its Sales & Distribution and Consumer Products businesses, as well as LIVE events and theatrical distribution. 

He will also have strategic oversight of developing BBC Worldwide Channels opportunities in Japan, working with Mark Whitehead, Senior Vice President & General Manager, BBC Worldwide Channels Asia.

Munekata succeeds Katsuhiko Waza, who announced his retirement in 2011, having been President of BBC Worldwide Japan since it was founded in 2000.  Katsuhiko will continue to work as a Non-Executive Director of BBC Worldwide Japan.