Johri takes on additional regional responsibilities at Discovery Networks

Rahul Johri, previously general manager, South Asia, Discovery Networks International, has been given additional responsibilities in a newly created role of senior vice president and general manager, South Asia, and head of revenue, pan-regional ad sales and Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia includes Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei.

Johri will now manage advertising sales and solutions deals for the regional business as well as focus on distribution and growing local ad sales for Southeast Asia, said a Discovery statement.

Mark Hollinger, president and CEO, Discovery Networks International, said, “Rahul has built a very successful Indian business for us during his time with Discovery.  I am delighted that he will bring his expertise to the Southeast Asia business and pan-regional sales efforts as he takes on this expanded role.”

New Apac head

The network has also named Arjan Hoekstra head of the Asia-Pacific region, effective September. As president and managing director of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific based in Singapore, Hoekstra will be responsible for developing the overall strategies for DNAP’s business to drive revenue across ad and affiliate sales, build the portfolio’s core brands and look for partnerships to drive the content and profile of the group within the region, informed the statement.
Said Hollinger,  “His strong management skills, his affiliate and sales experience and his deep relationships in the region will serve us very well as we look to expand our already successful business there further. Throughout his career at Eurosport, he was always looking for ways to innovate and develop new service offerings to his clients, and I look forward to his bringing this kind of ingenuity to Discovery’s portfolio in the marketplace.”

Hoekstra joins from Eurosport where he has been MD for Asia Pacific and Eurosportnews Distribution since 2005.