MUMBAI: Star has appointed Dr. Jack Gao as its CEO of Star China. Gao will officially join Star in November 2006, and will report to Star CEO Michelle Guthrie.
Based in Beijing, Gao will be in charge of Star's overall business interests in China. He will be responsible for developing strategic and business directions while also overseeing Star China's day-to-day operations.
Gao has also been appointed VP of News Corporation and will assume the position of chief representative of the News Corporation Beijing representative office, responsible for running News Corporation's activities in China, informs an official release.
Commenting on Gao's appointment, Guthrie said, "Jack's insights to the China market, combined with his wealth of networking and business experience, and a proven track-record of success, make him a unique fit to lead our businesses and growth initiatives in China. We are fortunate to have attracted him to join us."
"Bringing on someone of Jack's caliber to lead our China operations underscores Star and News Corporation's commitment to this important market. As we expand aggressively into the digital media space, Jack's technology background and experience in running businesses for multinationals such as Microsoft and Autodesk in China will serve as important assets in taking us to the next stage of our development in China," Guthrie continued.
Gao said, "With China poised for sustained and strong economic growth in the years ahead, a tremendous number of opportunities for dynamic and progressive companies such as Star and News Corporation will continue to open up. I am thrilled at the opportunity to apply my experience in China to Star and News Corporation's businesses and look forward to working with Michelle and the rest of the talented team at Star and News Corporation in seizing growth opportunities in this exciting marketplace."
Prior to joining Star, Gao served for more than three years as Apac Emerging Geography VP for Autodesk Inc., where he was responsible for strategy, marketing and sales, product research and development, government and public relations, investments, human resources, finance and administration operations in Greater China and India. Before that, Gao was general partner of Walden International, a leading venture capital firm in the USA. Between 1999 and 2002, Gao was president and general manager of Microsoft (China) Co. Ltd. Prior to joining Microsoft, Gao spent five years with Autodesk, as regional director, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China, the release adds.
Gao holds doctorate, master and bachelor degrees in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Harbin Institute of Technology in China.
