Lionsgate’s STARZ named Phait Lee Wong as General Manager, Malaysia

Commenting on her appointment, Phait says she is looking forward to bringing her experience and vision to the table. “I am thrilled to join the Lionsgate Play team at an exciting stage of its growth in the country. Malaysia is a vibrant over-the-top (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.”

Malaysians spend a significant portion of their lives online, averaging 9 hours and 17 minutes every day for work, leisure, and enjoyment. Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) platforms have progressively grown in popularity in the country due to high internet penetration rates and shifting consumer consumption preferences. People are desiring more content options and choices available at their leisure, particularly on smart phones and smart TVs, which has resulted in an increase in ‘cord cutting’ behaviour – ending subscriptions to cable or satellite television services – in recent years.

“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,” said Rohit Jain, Managing Director, Networks – Emerging Markets Asia, Lionsgate.

“We are aggressively gearing up our team in Malaysia following Lionsgate Play’s recent foray into the country in October 2021. Phait’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 Phait to amplify our vision in the market with her expertise and knowledge,” said Amit Dhanuka, Executive Vice President, Lionsgate.

With over 20 years of experience in business and strategy, Phait began her career in capital markets in the financial and banking sector. Traversing into the media sector with Astro, she led a range of prominent projects, including international ventures, media and intellectual property investments and mergers & acquisitions across India, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the UK. Phait conceptualised and developed Astro Malaysia’s OTT service – sooka – targeting Malaysian millennials and sports fans. She had a key role in partnership deals and successfully launched Maxis TV in December 2021.