Jon Penn
International producer, distributor and channel operator Blue Ant Media announced the establishment of a new Asia Pacific office based in Sydney, Australia, with the appointment of Jon Penn as Managing Director, Asia Pacific. Moreover, reporting to Penn, Jason Soh has been appointed as VP of Distribution, Asia, working out of Singapore.
The appointments signal the expansion of Blue Ant Media’s channel and program distribution business in Asia Pacific, combining the company’s channel distribution and content sales in the region into one unit. The Asia Pacific expansion aligns with the company’s recent announcement to merge production and distribution operations with Marblemedia into one unified studio and rights business.
Leading this new structure, Penn is now responsible for overseeing content sales and expanding the distribution of Blue Ant Media’s global branded channels across Asia Pacific, which include the Love Nature brand and Blue Ant Media's portfolio of FAST channels, including NatureTime, HauntTV, Homeful, Love Pets, Total Crime, and HistoryTime. In this role, he will lead teams in Sydney and Singapore, and will support the development of the company’s production business strategy in Australia, as well as advise on regional co-production opportunities. Penn reports to Carlyn Staudt, Head of Commissioning, Global Media & General Manager for Love Nature, and Mark Bishop, Co-President of Blue Ant Studios.
Meanwhile, based in Singapore, Soh will be responsible for content sales and leading distribution of Love Nature, as well as developing Blue Ant Media’s FAST channel portfolio in Asia. Soh was previously Global Channels and Distribution Director - APAC for Wildbrain and has held senior business roles in WarnerMedia, HBO, Disney and Nickelodeon.
Rounding out the team’s expansion, Nick Solowski, Senior Director, International Sales & Acquisitions, will continue his multi-regional content sales responsibilities but now will report into Penn as it relates to business in the Asia Pacific markets of China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, Morgan Jacobson is joining Penn’s team as Senior Specialist, Programming and Affiliate Marketing for APAC. Jacobson has relocated to Sydney from Love Nature’s Washington DC office, and will be taking on sales and affiliate marketing responsibilities for the region.
“Jon is an exceptional commercial leader and his high-level experience in growing revenue streams and market share will be invaluable as we broaden Blue Ant Media’s business in this key region. The team Jon has established brings together international sales experience and a keen knowledge of the brand, which sets up an incredible opportunity to grow a multi-faceted sales hub in Asia Pacific that places customers first with a myriad of content solutions,” Carlyn Staudt said.
“Blue Ant Media’s growing, high quality television portfolio and commitment to world class production and innovative distribution makes this an exciting opportunity. I am passionate about building new businesses in the Asia Pacific region and I am looking forward to growing a dynamic team,” Jon Penn added.