Warner Bros. Discovery recruits for APAC SVP of marketing role as Daniel Tan steps down

Warner Bros. Discovery senior vice president, marketing (APAC) Daniel Tan (pictured) has resigned from the company. His last day will be 31 January but he will continue his support for the organisation until 31 March. Warner Bros. Discovery is recruiting a replacement for the role. 

Tan joined the entertainment company in 2021 as its vice president, growth marketing, streaming and APAC where he led full-funnel marketing in the region and elevated brand awareness through digital marketing, social media, performance marketing and creative strategies. Tan was also in charge of leading pricing, packaging and partnerships to increase streaming revenues, as well as grow business insights and data science competencies in his role as vice president. 

In 2023, Tan was elevated to the role of senior vice president, marketing (APAC). His expanded remit included overseeing integrated marketing divisions across APAC, spanning direct-to-consumer service (Max), linear networks, consumer products and advertising businesses. This included working across brand, commercial partnerships and franchise marketing, with the goals of driving consumer awareness, consideration, conversion, engagement and retention.

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Overall, Tan has had over 18 years of experience in the industry. Before joining Warner Bros. Discovery, Tan's longest stint was at The Walt Disney Company where he served the entertainment company for eight years from 2013 to 2021. He entered the company as a director, marketing (branded media and content) and later rose through the ranks, taking on the title of executive director of consumer marketing, brand and franchise management, executive director, marketing, media networks, Southeast Asia and the CMO title for Malaysia and Singapore. 

He then took became the head of studio entertainment for Malaysia and Singapore and the head of marketing, Disney+ where he was involved in launching the streaming platform in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. His other positions in the past included regional marketing and PR director at Turner and regional marketing director at Fox Networks Group. 

During his time at Warner Bros. Discovery, Tan built a team from scratch and grew the company's most popular content and brands such as House of the Dragon, The Penguin, The Last of Us, Harry Potter and the DC Universe.

Most recently, Tan was involved in the launching of Warner Bros. Discovery's new streaming platform, Max, across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, where the team strategised and created a disruptive multi-city campaign to celebrate its debut, as well Max's expansion into Japan and New Zealand. The new streaming platform, which debuted in November 2024, brings fans blockbuster movies, series, iconic hits, real-life content and family favourites. 

In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Tan said the Max activation was the "biggest highlight for us in 2024", adding that he is proud of how the team worked tireless to bring the campaign to life and enable audiences across the region to connect with Max's content. 

"It has been an immensely rewarding time at Warner Bros. Discovery, witnessing and playing a part in the company's growth journey over the last three years. I’ve had the privilege of working with a team made up of many of the best in their fields and I have full confidence in their resilience and agility. I look forward to continuing to celebrate their future successes as an avid consumer while spending more time with my family," said Tan.

“Tan joined Warner Bros. Discovery in November 2021 and from the very start, his vision, resilience, and dedication has been instrumental in shaping the team. Under his leadership, the team has navigated significant ambiguity to successfully launch Max across Japan, New Zealand and Southeast Asia," said Shauna Spenley, global CMO, direct-to-consumer, Warner Bros. Discovery. 

"In addition to setting the strategy for the APAC launches, I also want to recognise Tan’s contribution as a highly dedicated, thoughtful and collaborative leader who consistently put the business first," added Spenley. 

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