Brendle quits as Hachette splits region

<p>HONG KONG: Christine Brendle will resign as Hachette Filipacchi </p><p>Asia-Pacific president and chief executive officer amid a reorganisation </p><p>of the Paris-based consumer publishing group's top management team in </p><p>the region. The reshuffle takes effect on October 1. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Brendle has been with the group for 17 years, serving in a variety of </p><p>management positions in France, the US and, since 1990, Asia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Under the reorganisation, Hachette, which has operated as one group, </p><p>will be divided into two separate business units to reflect its business </p><p>volume, which it claims has increased six-fold since the mid-1990s. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Philippe Guelton, currently president of Hachette Fujingaho in Japan, </p><p>will be responsible for Japan and South Korea as CEO, North Asia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>At the same time, Victor Visot, currently managing director of Film </p><p>Office, which is a fully-owned subsidiary engaged in video distribution, </p><p>has been appointed CEO of Greater China, Southeast Asia and </p><p>Australia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Brendle said: "Since the size of the company has grown so much, it is </p><p>far more efficient to split the region into two, each with its own chief </p><p>executive." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Hachette's worldwide chairman and CEO, Gerald de Roquemaurel, added: "We </p><p>are sorry to see Christine leave us after the significant contributions </p><p>she has made to our company over almost two decades. We would have liked </p><p>her to accept our offers in other parts of the world. However, we </p><p>understand her desire to stay in Asia." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He added that Guelton and Visot would "continue the company's strategy </p><p>of development and acquisitions previously implemented by </p><p>Christine". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Brendle said that she would "initially blend consulting work with </p><p>spending more time with her family". </p><p><BR><BR> </p>