Discovery Networks APAC president and MD Arthur Bastings to exit

Discovery Networks Asia Pacific (DNAP) has confirmed the departure of Arthur Bastings, president and managing director, which takes effect at the end of the year. In a statement to Marketing, a Discovery spokesperson explained that Bastings has chosen not to renew his contract.Moving forward, the general managers for Southeast Asia, India, Japan/North Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific will report directly to Jean-Briac Perrette, CEO and president, Discovery Networks International.After re-joining Discovery in 2015, Bastings had also recruited a “diverse and talented new leadership team” drawn from digital and direct-to-consumer backgrounds. According to the statement, this shifted the operating model towards stand-alone market clusters and future-facing products.“With two-thirds of the world’s population residing across Asia Pacific, it remains a very important geography for the long-term growth of our business,” the spokesperson added.Bastings took on the role in 2015, reporting to Jean-Briac Perrette, president of DNI. He was responsible for setting the regional strategy and maximising the potential of DNAP’s business and workforce to accelerate the company’s expansion. He will be based out of the Singapore office.Bastings joined DNAP from Millicom, an international telecommunications and media company, where he was a member of the executive committee responsible for Africa and Financial Services, focusing on mobile and information and communications technology convergence.  He brings over 20 years’ experience working in the TV and media business, including several years leading strategy and business development for Viacom across Asia. Bastings also previously spent six years as executive vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for Discovery.