MUMBAI: There are changes afoot at Star China and at ESPN Star Sports Asia too. In a surprising development, the Star Group today announced that the head of its China operations Jamie Davis is being shifted to ESPN Star Sports as managing director. Davis replaces current MD Rik Dovey with effect from 1 September.

Dovey has been with ESS for nine years of which five were as head of ESS Asia. Davis and Dovey will be working together over the next six months to ensure a seamless leadership transition, with Dovey continuing to lead several ongoing initiatives, a company statement says.

WEI ZHANG APPOINTED STAR CHINA COO:

As for Star China, for the present Star Group CEO Michelle Guthrie assumes additional charge of Davis' duties, while Wei Zhang has been appointed as COO. Reporting to Guthrie, Wei will be responsible for managing the channel operations, revenue and business development of Star China.

Wei was previously CNBC China MD and oversaw the business channel's operations there. It is worth noting that this is not Wei's first stint at Star. She was earlier with Star China from 2000-2002 in the role of director of business development.

Davis has served as Star China president since September 2001. Prior to this, he held the position of senior VP programming at Star.