As part of its restructuring of its media assets in the region, A+E Networks® has appointed Leena Singarajah Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Australia, and promoted Saugato Banerjee to Managing Director, North Asia. Singarajah’s appointment and Banerjee’s promotion was made by Edward Sabin, Executive Managing Director, International, A+E Networks, to whom they will report.

Sabin says: “Leena is an aggressive, experienced and whip-smart executive whose vast knowledge of the industry and acute business skills will help extend the reach of the A+E Networks on every entertainment platform throughout Southeast Asia and Australia.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the team at A+E Networks and to lead the continued expansion of the company’s globally recognized brands in these exciting markets,” said Singarajah.

Based in Singapore, Singarajah will be responsible for managing and expanding A+E’s channels and media assets in Southeast Asia and Australia, including the day-to-day relationships with the company’s partners and businesses in the region. Singarajah will also draw on her extensive experience to focus on A+E’s digital strategy, a key expansion and execution area to fuel further growth in the region. 

Saugato Banerjee joined A+E Networks in 2011. During his tenure he has been a key element in driving A+E’s unparalleled innovation and business execution in the region. He also played a key role in the rapid expansion of the Southeast Asia (SEA) business, evidenced by the company’s successful launches of History and Lifetime in Korea, and in achieving record ratings for History Japan. In his new role, Banerjee will continue to manage growth in Korea and Japan and will navigate A+E’s continued growth and expansion in China. 

Edward Sabin says: “Saugato has brought to bear his excellent relationships and deft strategic vision to our Japanese and Korean businesses, driving A+E’s unparalleled innovation and strong execution in the region. I am excited to see him apply these unique skills to the further growth of our Chinese business. We anticipate great success under his sage guidance and leadership.”

Banerjee comments: “Expanding my role in North Asia is a welcome challenge as we forge ahead to optimize the media landscape. This is truly an exciting stage in A+E Networks’ evolution and I am pleased to be working with such a talented group of executives, in market and internationally.”

“Over the past 12 years, our team has built A+E Networks into one of the top media companies in the region. It has been a privilege working on such a dynamic business with such a talented team. I leave with full confidence that our new leadership will be well positioned for another decade of growth,” said Alan Hodges, who joined A+E Networks in 2002, and leaves his position as Managing Director, Asia-Pacific.

“Alan Hodges has been a pioneer in A+E’s Asia Pacific business, with big shoes to fill. In a little over a decade, he has nurtured and grown A+E’s brands in the region, and has in the process created tremendous value for us commercially. He has also attracted, mentored and led countless top rank executives in the A+E fold, including Prem, who will also leave behind a legacy of great successes in the region,” said Sabin.

Prem Kamath, Deputy Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, will stay on as a strategic advisor through the end of October, and will thereafter depart to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions in the digital space.

About Leena Singarajah 
Leena Singarajah joins A+E Networks from Scripps Networks, where she served as Managing Director, Asia. Singarajah developed and executed the growth strategy for Scripps Networks’ lifestyle brands across the region. Prior to joining Scripps Networks, Singarajah served as Head of Sales and Business Development, Asia Pacific for IMG Media, where she was responsible for overseeing content and channel distribution. During her tenure, she launched IMG Media’s first and only fully-owned 24-hour sports channel, EDGEsport. She also oversaw IMG Media’s Entertainment Division portfolio, including a wide-ranging, high-volume lifestyle catalogue. Singarajah is a graduate of both the Malaysian Institute of Management, where she obtained her associate’s degree in business administration, and the University of Technology Malaysia, where she received an associate’s degree in electrical engineering.

About Saugato Banerjee
As Head of Strategy and Business Development for the Asia Pacific region, Banerjee has been integral to the growth of A+E Networks across the Asia Pacific region. He played a key role in the rapid expansion of the SEA business and oversaw the Digital, Operations and Research functions in the region. He also carried out responsibilities as a caretaker GM of AETN 18 in India during a crucial period of change. Prior to his assignment at A+E Networks, Banerjee held various roles in media and advertising in his previous jobs at ESPN STAR Sports, CNBC Asia Pacific, Contract Advertising and FCB India. He is an Economics graduate with a post graduate diploma in Communications.

About A+E Networks® Asia
A+E Networks™ Asia is owned by the award-winning, global media content company, A+E Networks™, which is dedicated to offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television networks to websites, to home videos/DVDs to gaming and educational software. A+E Networks Asia is comprised of Lifetime®, HISTORY®, FYI®, H2™ and Crime & Investigation Network®. A+E Networks Asia operates and distributes its portfolio in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Taiwan, Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

About A+E Networks
A+E Networks® is a global content company comprised of some of the most popular and culturally relevant brands in media including A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, Lifetime Movies, FYI™, VICELAND®, Blaze™ and Crime+Investigation®. A+E Networks’ portfolio extends across platforms and genres, with a long-form production division, A+E Studios™; film division, A&E IndieFilms®; full-service digital storytelling hub, 45th & Dean™; strategic investment division, A+E Ventures™; and A+E Digital®, encompassing watch apps, games and SVOD initiatives including Lifetime Movie Club and HISTORY Vault. A+E Networks’ channels and branded programming reach more than 335 million households in over 200 territories in 42 languages. A+E Networks has offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea and Singapore. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst.