MUMBAI: Star has appointed David Butorac as its president, Platforms. Butorac will report to Star CEO Michelle Guthrie.

In this newly created role, Butorac will be responsible for developing opportunities in platform businesses across Asia to enhance the delivery of Star's content to the consumer. He will also work to strengthen the operations of Star's joint venture platforms, especially in light of the recent launch of the Tata Sky satellite service in India.

Commenting on the appointment, Guthrie said, "As we continue to drive more quality content to more people across Asia, the distribution platform side of our business has become increasingly important to the success of our future growth. The need for someone of David's calibre became apparent. David's pay-TV experience in Asia, as well as with News Corporation platforms Foxtel and BSkyB, gives him credentials that are unmatched, and we feel very fortunate to have attracted him to Star."

Butorac said, "With diverse services and businesses that span Asia and beyond, Star is a unique media company, and I am very excited to come on board and work with Michelle as well as with the rest of Star's talented team. With a lot of growth still to come in the region, I look very much forward to playing a part in Star's further development, particularly with its platform businesses."

Butorac will join Star in November, upon the completion of his current duties as Group COO, Astro Asia Allnetworks Plc.

Butorac, 44, has vast experience in the field of broadcasting. Prior to joining Astro as COO in 2002, he worked for 14 years at British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) where he held a series of positions, including head of Operations, BSkyB, from 1992 to 1995 and Station Manager from 1995 to 2002. While on temporary reassignment from BSkyB, he served as Operations director for the launch of Foxtel in Australia in 1995 and undertook consultant roles for other News Corporation broadcast companies. Prior to 1989, Butorac worked in television news broadcasting in Australia and the UK, states an official release.