Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Lionsgate Play, the premium streaming service platform of Lionsgate-owned STARZ, has announced the appointment of Phait Lee Wong as general manager of Malaysia. Wong will be based in Kuala Lumpur and will be reporting directly to Amit Dhanuka, executive vice president of Lionsgate.
She holds an extensive understanding of business and strategy with over 20 years of experience. Wong will be responsible for operations and management of the Lionsgate Play arm in Malaysia, developing local leadership and teams to support core functions like brand building, strategic innovation and business growth.
Wong began her career in capital markets in the financial and banking sector. In the media sector, she led a range of projects, including international ventures, media property investments, and mergers and acquisitions across multiple markets for Malaysian satellite television provider Astro. Wong conceptualised and developed Astro over-the-top (OTT) service – sooka – targeting Malaysian millennials and sports fans. She also had a key role in partnership deals and successfully launched Maxis TV in December 2021.
Commenting on her appointment, Wong says she is looking forward to bringing her experience and vision to the table and she is thrilled to join the Lionsgate Play team at an exciting stage of its growth in the country.
“Malaysia is a vibrant OTT market with great opportunities for Lionsgate Play to tap into evolving consumer behaviour and their appetite for customisable, on-demand entertainment. I am confident of building the Lionsgate Play brand here and look forward to bringing exclusive, interesting and unique content to a wider Malaysian audience,” Wong said.
Rohit Jain, managing director, networks of Lionsgate emerging markets in Asia, said, “Demand for SVoD services in Malaysia is expected to double in the coming years, and we are positioning ourselves for business growth opportunities. Under the able guidance of Amit Dhanuka, Phait’s wide-ranging experience and stellar vision will be the foundation for us to take Lionsgate Play to new heights as we create long term value for our stakeholders.”
Simultaneously, Dhanuka commented, “We are aggressively gearing up our team in Malaysia following Lionsgate Play’s recent foray into the country in October 2021. Wong’s strategic approach for the brand and app will help us reach newer avenues of growth as we drive momentum for our business here. I look forward to working with Wong to amplify our vision in the market with her expertise and knowledge.”
