ITVS GE builds out APAC team with Discovery, BBC Studios execs

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has expanded its Asia Pacific sales team, hiring top Discovery Networks and BBC Studios execs.  

Bharti Mittal has been appointed sales director for South Asia, while Zoe Tsui has joined as head of content sales for Greater China.

Mittal — who most recently oversaw APAC for Discovery Networks — will be based out of ITVS GE’s new Mumbai outpost. Prior to Discovery, she held content and sales positions with Viacom 18/IndiaCast Media Distribution, Go Quest and Zee Entertainment.

Meanwhile, Tsui will work out of ITVS GE’s Hong Kong office. Since October 2016, she has served as head of content sales for Greater China at BBC Studios, overseeing sales for all content, including natural history, drama, documentaries and comedy, among others.

Prior to this, she spent 10 years at the Chinese office of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment International.

Mittal and Tsui will both report into Hyeonza Hong, SVP for Asia.

The appointments come as ITVS GE moves aggressively to secure content deals out of China for dramas such as Bodyguard and Snowpiercer — both of which were sold into Huanxi Media Group Limited.

Elsewhere in Asia, ITVS GE has appointed Plandas as its exclusive distribution agent in Japan. Founded in 1980 and led by president Daisuke Miyanaga, the business has a wide network of partners across the Japanese market.

Augustus Dulgaro, EVP for Asia Pacific at ITVS GE and chief operating officer for ITV Studios Australia, said: “Bharti and Zoe bring a wealth of experience to our APAC team and we are delighted to have them on board. Together with our new relationship with Plandas, which will bring more world-class content to Japanese broadcasters, platforms and ultimately viewers, we are excited to be ramping up our operations in the region.”