Crunchyroll, the anime-centric producer/distributor owned by WarnerMedia, continues to aggressively re-assert its brand globally, naming Julian Lai-Hung as the head of content strategy & business development focused on Japan and Asia-Pacific markets.
AT&T and The Chernin Group in 2014 formed over-the-top video conglomerate Otter Media, which became majority owner of 8-year-old Crunchyroll. AT&T melded the anime company to WarnerMedia after acquiring Time Warner.
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Based in Tokyo, Lai-Hung will focus on building out Crunchyroll’s content strategy, driving the originals initiative and identifying new business opportunities with existing and new partners.
Lai-Hung cut his teeth working for Netflix where he helped the SVOD pioneer launch the service in Japan and oversaw the global anime category as director of content and anime in the region, and at Warner Bros., where he led a team as the VP of international digital distribution and global sales.
While at Netflix, Lai-Hung was executive producer across a number of titles, including “Terrace House Aloha State,” “Million Yen Women,” “Godzilla: Monster Planet,” “Kuromukuro” and “Blazing Transfer Students.”
In addition to Lai-Hung, recent Crunchyroll appointments include Alden Budill as head of global partnerships and content strategy; Terry Li as head of 360 and GM of Crunchyroll Games, and John Easum as the head of Crunchyroll EMEA following the acquisition of VIZ Media Europe Group.
“Given Julian’s deep expertise and passion for the medium, he’s the perfect addition to our team to progress our efforts to identify new partnerships and creative opportunities,” Budill said in a statement.