MUMBAI: Even as Disney India is hiring professionals at all levels to help get its channels off the ground, Disney Asia has announced a top notch appointment - that of a number two to boss Doug Miller for its television unit. Former Nickelodeon UK managing director Nicky Parkinson is the lady who has signed up with the mouse house. She joins Walt Disney Television International (Asia-Pacific) as senior VP and managing director for branded television.

At Disney, Parkinson will oversee the management and development of Disney-branded channels and blocks across the region, outside of Japan. At present, the network operates 10 Disney Channels in Asia, six Playhouse Disney networks and 23 Disney-branded slots.

Parkinson will be based in Hong Kong and as mentioned earlier will report to Walt Disney International (Asia-Pacific) and Walt Disney Television International (Asia-Pacific) executive VP and managing director Doug Miller.

Parkinson was appointed Nickelodeon UK MD in February 2001 where she oversaw its creative, commercial and technical and people strategies across existing and new lines of business. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, she was Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd vice president marketing for five years where she was responsible for trade and consumer marketing for Cartoon Network, TNT and TCM in Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as directing off-channel Development for Cartoon Network Originals in the areas of syndication, video, events, theme parks and licensing and merchandising.

Previously, Parkinson was the board account director at Grey Advertising and Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners and has also worked in Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising as an account manager.