MTV chief Robbins to depart as network restructures

MTV Networks Asia Pacific has confirmed regional president Nigel Robbins will step down from his role at the end of the year. <BR><BR> Robbins' (pictured) departure comes as part of a wider announcement by the embattled entertainment network, which will see a decentralisation of the company's Singapore-based regional operation in favour of localised operations, a sweeping move that will result in a number of redundancies. <BR><BR> According to MTV Networks International chief Bill Roedy, the move will allow the broadcaster to shift the focus of resources to local markets, and empower local operations to drive their own TV and digital media businesses. He added that Singapore would continue to be the base for a streamlined corporate group, along with a new unit overseen by EVP Viacom Brand Solutions and Southeast Asia Christopher Steward, which will manage MTV and Nickelodeon's Southeast Asia TV and digital media businesses, along with the Viacom Brand Solutions pan-regional advertising sales team. <BR><BR> The announcement follows a difficult few months for the broadcaster, which has seen the departure of MTV global chief Tom Freston, ousted by the Viacom board, the sudden departure of senior sales exec Toby Hayward in July, the postponement of its regional awards show, and last year, a significant restructure of its operational resources.