Universal Networks International Appoints Managing Director, Central Europe

Tariq Syed has been appointed in the newly created role of Managing Director, Central Europe, Universal Networks International (UNI) to drive the ongoing expansion of NBC Universal's international pay-TV channels in the region.
The announcement was made by Colin McLeod, Managing Director, Emerging Markets EMEA, to whom Syed reports. The role is effective immediately.
Syed will play a key role in establishing UNI's entertainment channel brands as well as further enhancing UNI's presence on affiliate platforms and delivering on advertising sales revenue goals in Central Europe.
McLeod commented: "We are delighted to welcome Tariq to the team. His wealth of experience will be enormously beneficial in adding even more momentum for the delivery of UNI's ambitious expansion plans in the Emerging Markets EMEA region."
Syed added: "This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me to join UNI's vibrant Emerging Markets EMEA business and further accelerate its growth in the high-potential markets of Central Europe."
Syed joins UNI from NBC Universal International where he was Vice President, Business Development leading global M&A and strategic projects across the company's businesses, including the acquisitions of production companies Carnival and Monkey Kingdom.
Syed began his career at British Telecom working in various functions including finance and business development. His extensive business experience also includes the mobile phone company O2 and Bear Stearns' Telecoms Media and Technology (TMT) Investment Banking team in London. He is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant and holds both a Maths degree from King's College, London and an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain.
This appointment follows the roll-out of Universal Networks International's five revitalised core channel brands - Universal Channel, 13th Street Universal, Syfy Universal, DIVA Universal and Studio Universal - to deliver compelling quality content to audiences across the world.
Concurrently, Universal Networks continues its roll-out of HD channels as a strategic priority, having already launched in Latin America, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Japan.
(KMcA)