Astro appoints Remy Khoo to newly-created VP role for eCommerce and payments

Astro has appointed Remy Khoo to the newly created role of VP, eCommerce, partnerships and payments. In the group-wide role, Khoo (pictured) told A+M he will oversee eCommerce and strategic payments initiatives and plans to build a team to manage Astro's external partners.

"My vision is to run digital as a business, not just a channel, in leveraging strategic partnerships as acquisition and revenue drivers for Astro. My aspiration is to allow our customers to conveniently access Astro's leading content and consumer services via their preferred digital platform of choice - be it their favourite eCommerce, e-banking or e-wallet app or website," he added. Khoo is on the lookout for individuals with a flair for marketing and partnerships who are keen on driving innovative digital initiatives and exploring new digital business models with Astro's strategic partners.

He was previously with AmBank as SVP, head of retail digital business for close to a year, during which he led, mentored and planned the business direction for digital business development, retail product management and business solutions, among others, his LinkedIn said. Prior to that, he was with Maybank for more than four years, helming the roles of VP, head of Maybank2u and VP, head of digital innovation and strategy. Khoo also has experience in the telco industry, having worked at webe digital as senior manager, sales planning and strategy and Maxis as head, modern trade development, his LinkedIn said.

Astro's first foray into eCommerce came in 2015 when it tied up with Korean multimedia retailer GS Home Shopping to form Go Shop. Back then, the company said Go Shop allows it to diversify its business and tap into a growing global industry. For the third quarter of its 2021 financial year ended October 2020, Astro's home shopping revenue grew by 18.9% to RM110.7 million compared with the corresponding quarter of RM93.1 million. This was mainly due to consumers' shift to online shopping following the Movement Control Order. 

Astro's overall group revenue for the quarter was RM1,107.0 million, dipping 8.9% against the corresponding quarter of RM1,215.4 million, mainly arising from a decrease in subscription and advertising revenue and offset by increase in
merchandise sales. According to its financial report, advertising revenue for the period was RM127.2 million compared to RM166.7 million in the previous period. 

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