Former Nokia and Microsoft marketer and content manager Petri Nikula who was hired to run the Singapore office as vice-president, Southeast Asia, is reported to have left the company weeks before it was closed. Petri could not be reached for a comment.
Red Bee’s executive vice-president for China, Anthony Shang denied that the Singapore office had closed permanently, but confirmed that Nikula has left. “We’re restructuring the business after the departure of our vice-president for Southeast Asia,” said Shang. “We will relaunch regionally with a new team.”
Red Bee’s UK clients include the BBC, which sold the company in 2005, ESPN, Discovery and Virgin Media.
The initial plan was to extend these relationships to Asia-Pacific. Red Bee Media launched in Beijing at the beginning of 2008, adding to offices in Sydney, Paris and London.