MAM
MTV Asia Pacific head Frank Brown calls it quits
MUMBAI: MTV has announced that after a long tenure of 18 years with the company, Frank Brown has decided to leave his post as MTV Asia Pacific president.
Brown will relocate to Australia and join his familys business, the International investment and consultancy company, The Laura Group. Brown will remain at MTV Networks in Singapore through a transition period until the end of the year. The broadcaster has not announced his replacement. It has to also announce a head for India following Alex Kuruvilla’s resignation in June 2005.
Brown took on the role of president for the Asia Pacific region a couple of years ago. MTV Networks vice chairman Bill Roedy said, Frank has been a leading force in building our International businesses since joining the launch team in Europe 18 years ago when we set up our International operations. In Europe, he drove the creation of a pan-regional advertising market, enabling MTV Networks Europe to consistently exceed business plan.
“Since he moved to Singapore to create MTV Networks Asia Pacific in 1994, he has launched 20 MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon channels and has forged important partnerships for the company across the Asia-Pacific region. With his creativity, passion and vision in driving our Asian expansion strategies, he has built a vibrant Asian business that will be a growth engine for MTV Networks for years to come. Frank has been a trusted, invaluable colleague and friend through the years, and I wish him and his family much happiness and success in Australia.
Brown said, I feel extremely privileged to have had such a wonderful experience with MTVN Asia Pacific, one of the most amazing companies in one of the most amazing industries anywhere in the world. I have also loved being part of helping to build the companys network of channels around the world. After seven fantastic years in Europe and 11 in Asia Pacific, I will be leaving the company at the end of this year to focus on family priorities in Australia.
“Our businesses are now in an excellent position for continuous further growth and success, thanks to the efforts of an incredible group of creative, talented, passionate and committed people. I have no doubt that the increasing momentum of MTV Networks Asia Pacific will continue to roll on and rock youth culture more than ever around the region.
Brown joined MTV back in 1987 to set up MTVs ad sales and marketing operations across Europe. He also led the launch of VH1 UK before relocating to Singapore in 1994 to establish MTV Networks Asia Pacific. In the past 11 years, Brown has led the launch of 20 MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon channels across the Asia Pacific region, creating the companys most widely distributed regional portfolio of brands, which reach over 200 million TV households in 26 territories in the region.
Brown was also responsible for setting up the companys digital media and consumer products businesses across the region, and negotiated many successful joint ventures for the company in markets such as Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Philippines and Australia.
Digital
OpenAI’s Stargate lead Peter Hoeschele exits with two senior leaders
Trio behind compute push set to join new startup amid leadership reshuffle
SAN FRANCISCO: Peter Hoeschele, a key figure behind OpenAI’s early Stargate data centre initiative, has exited the company, according to a report by The Information.
The departure is part of a broader leadership shift, with two other senior executives, Shamez Hemani and Anuj Saharan, also set to leave in the coming days. All three are expected to join the same new startup, although details about the venture remain under wraps.
The trio played a central role in OpenAI’s Stargate effort, an initiative aimed at building large-scale data centre capacity in-house to reduce reliance on external infrastructure providers. Their exits mark a notable moment for the company’s compute strategy as it continues to scale rapidly.
OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to The Information, “We’re grateful for the contributions Peter, Shamez, and Anuj have made to OpenAI and wish them the very best in what comes next.” The company also pointed to the recent appointment of Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute organisation, signalling continuity in its infrastructure roadmap.
OpenAI has indicated that it does not plan to directly replace Hoeschele’s role, suggesting a possible restructuring of responsibilities within the team.
As competition intensifies in the race to build next-generation AI systems, leadership changes in core infrastructure teams are likely to draw close attention. For now, the spotlight shifts to what this departing trio builds next, and how OpenAI adapts as it scales its ambitions.
