Derek Chang, who has made his mark in the satellite and cable television industry as a leading strategy and development executive, has been named managing director of Asia Pacific operations for Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (NYSE: SNI).

Derek Chang, named Managing Director of Asia Pacific operations for Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (NYSE: SNI)(Photo: Business Wire)

Chang will be responsible for designing and executing growth strategies in the Asia Pacific region for Food Network and Travel Channel, both of which are available to viewers in selected Asian markets. Chang’s focus will be on leveraging Scripps brands across all distribution platforms in the region as well as managing regional programming and marketing strategies.

Chang will report to Jim Samples, president of international for Scripps Networks Interactive. He will start in April and be based in Singapore.

“Scripps Networks Interactive has ambitious goals to significantly broaden its presence in Asia, including wider distribution of our lifestyle brands and programming capabilities,” Samples said. “Derek Chang’s expertise and reputation as one of the multi-video industry’s leading strategy and development executives, combined with the strength of the Scripps lifestyle brands, give our company tremendous credibility with distributors and potential business partners throughout the region.”

Chang comes to Scripps Networks Interactive from DIRECTV where he had responsibility for all content acquisition, original production and programming operations. In addition, he managed DIRECTV’s regional sports networks (Root Sports) and its advertising sales business. As part of his responsibilities at DIRECTV, he managed the acquisition of networks from Asia and Latin America for DIRECTV's international programming packages. Chang also oversaw DIRECTV’s investments in networks including GSN, Chiller, Tennis Channel, MLB Network and NHL Network.

“Food Network and Travel Channel are content-rich, highly entertaining networks that already are proving to be popular in the Asia Pacific markets where they’ve been launched," Chang said. “Further, they are the premiere brands in their categories and will serve the company well as we invest in the channels, work to broaden their distribution on all platforms, and explore new business relationships throughout the region.”

Chang joined DIRECTV in 2006 and was executive vice president of content strategy and development. Prior to his role at DIRECTV, he held executive positions in finance and development with Charter Communications, The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES Network), GlobalCenter and TCI Communications / AT&T Broadband.

Chang holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

About Scripps Networks Interactive

Scripps Networks Interactive is one of the leading developers of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming is complemented with online video, social media areas and e-commerce components on companion websites and broadband vertical channels. The company produces nearly 2,000 hours of original lifestyle programming annually and its media portfolio includes popular lifestyle television and Internet brands Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and country music network Great American Country.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130224005172/en/