iQIYI taps ex-Warner Music MD as senior MD for ID, MY and SG

Chinese streaming giant iQIYI.com has appointed Dinesh Ratnam as its new senior managing director for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The move marks a return for Ratnam, who previously helped establish iQIYI’s presence in Malaysia and Singapore five years ago.

He was previously the managing director of Warner Music Group for Malaysia and Singapore. Based on his LinkedIn profile, Ratnam began his two-year stint at Warner as the MD for Malaysia in 2023. Prior to that, he was with iQIYI for over three years, starting off as the country manager for Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, before moving on to become its senior director for international business. 

Ratnam had spent a year and a half as iflix's regional head of growth and country manager for Malaysia. He was also an investor and director for Common Ground Coworking Space and chief of staff to the Catcha Group CEO. Earlier, from 2011 to 2015, he held various roles at J.P. Morgan in London and San Francisco.

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In leaving his position at Warner Music, Ratnam shared on LinkedIn that he was proud of the milestones his teams have achieved, including multiple hit songs, cross-border chart success, and industry awards for their artists. "We also established and cemented our position in being a trusted partner to brands seeking meaningful collaboration with music, and successfully delivered large-scale, innovative campaigns," he added. 

In conversation with A+M, Ratnam described the appointment as a “homecoming,” and expressed excitement at the opportunity to build on the brand’s strong foundation, while tapping into the fast-evolving streaming landscape across Southeast Asia. With a strong catalogue of Chinese dramas, Korean series, anime, and a growing slate of local productions, iQIYI has built a loyal regional following.

“Indonesia presents a vast and dynamic market, rich in creativity and potential,” said Ratnam. “I'm eager to collaborate with local talents and partners to deliver compelling content that resonates with audiences. Additionally, the opportunity to scale the business in a competitive landscape, where demand for Asian content is surging, is both challenging and exhilarating.”

Ratnam officially started his role this week. As senior managing director, he is tasked with overseeing business operations across the three key markets. His remit includes driving subscriber growth, strengthening local content investment, forming strategic partnerships, and deepening brand engagement with fans of Chinese and Asian content.

As streaming competition intensifies, iQIYI stands out with a hyper-focus on Asian content and local relevance, notably through its Telkomsel collaboration. "Our platform offers flexibility and affordability, allowing users to choose between ad-supported free viewing or premium subscriptions with exclusive content and advanced features," said Ratnam.

He added that iQIYI aims to strengthen its regional footprint via strategic partnerships: "We have partnered with many household brands like Astro, CelcomDigi, and Media Prima in Malaysia, as well as our recent collaboration with Telkomsel in Indonesia."

Original local productions are also central to iQIYI’s growth, with Ratnam explaining: "We’re committed to producing original series in Malaysia and Indonesia, working closely with renowned local production houses to bring authentic stories to our platform."

Beyond content, the platform emphasizes fan engagement: "Through initiatives like the iQIYI Starship program, we’re bringing fans closer to their favorite Chinese stars," he said. "Recent events, such as Chen Zheyuan's appearances in Bangkok and Indonesia, highlight our efforts to connect audiences with the talent they admire."

Earlier this week, iQIYI announced its partnership with Indonesian telco provider Telkomsel, focusing on bundled mobile services, joint content production, user promotions, and technical support. In tandem, the company also launched its Indonesian platform, dedicated to delivering localised Chinese and international content, developing original local programming, and enhancing services specifically for Indonesian viewers.

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