MTV Networks rejigs region, Robbins departs

Embattled entertainment network MTV Networks Asia-Pacific has unveiled sweeping changes to its business strategy, which will lead to 84 redundancies across a number of departments in its Singapore operation. <BR><BR> Nigel Robbins (pictured), president of MTV Networks Asia-Pacific, has also announced he will step down from his role, but will continue to act in a consultant capacity until the end of the year, working with EVP and chief operating officer Steven Tan, who will lead the business until Robbins' replacement is named. <BR><BR> Key among the changes is a decision to decentralise the network's regional operation currently based out of Singapore to empower local operations to drive their own television and digital businesses as they see fit. Singapore will continue to act as a regional headquarters for the streamlined corporate group, along with a new unit managing MTV and Nickelodeon's TV and digital business, along with the Viacom Brand Solutions (VBS) pan-regional sales group. <BR><BR> This unit will be headed by Christopher Steward, EVP of VBS and Southeast Asia.