Former Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) executive Ross Pollack has been appointed as CEO at Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures, owned by Malaysia’s Astro Group.

Pollack was formerly SPTI’s senior vice president, distribution, Asia, a Hong Kong-based position that he had held since 2004. He replaces William Pfeiffer who quit as Celestial CEO more than a year ago to establish Hong Kong-based outfit Tigergate Entertainment, with backing from Lionsgate.

Launched in 2001 with backing from Malaysian tycoon Ananda Krishnan, Celestial owns the 760-title Shaw Brothers library, which it has licensed in more than 100 territories, operates two TV channels and produces film and TV content.

While at Sony, Pollack was responsible for licensing Sony Pictures filmed entertainment, acquired product and SPTI-produced content across the region. This included a string of VoD deals with companies such as Singapore’s mio TV and Korea’s SK Telecom and Daum Entertainment.

Pollack takes up his new post at Celestial at the end of next month. The company, which recently moved from the former offices of Shaw Brothers founder Run Run Shaw to premises in Kowloon Bay, has been developing remakes of some of the titles in the Shaw Brothers library.

These include a $10m remake of 1967 Shaw Brothers classic One Armed Swordsman with Korean production outift Sidus FNH.

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