Companies across the Asia-Pacific region recently made executive management changes, including United Business Media Asia, Messe Duesseldorf, Marina Bay Sands and SKYCITY Entertainment Group:

Here are several announcements:

United Business Media Asia promoted Mike Tan to the position of senior vice president Aug. 1. Tan began his career in print publishing and joined UBM Asia in 1995 as a magazine publisher. Since then, he has undertaken a wide variety of management tasks, including as general manager for UBM Asia's China business based in Shanghai, general manager for the trade show business in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as in online product development.

From 2002 onwards, his focus has been on business development as UBM seeks acquisitions, partnerships, collaborative opportunities and new launches, both to grow the business, as well as strengthen the existing portfolio. Tan also oversees the legal and research functions, as well as maintains concurrent operational responsibility for the Beauty and Sign/LED portfolios.

In his business development role, Tan helped drive UBM Asia’s growth and success in the past decade, according to company officials. UBM Asia has made seven acquisitions and more than 30 new exhibition launches in the past two years alone.

Tan will continue to be based in the Hong Kong regional headquarters, reporting to Jimé Essink, president and CEO of UBM Asia, and there will be no changes in the organisational structure of the company.

Marina Bay Sands appointed George Tanasijevich its president and CEO. Tanasijevich also is the managing director of Global Development for Las Vegas Sands Corp., the parent company of Marina Bay Sands, with properties in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore.

Prior to his recent appointment, Tanasijevich was the interim CEO and previously served as the general manager and vice president, Singapore Development, spearheading the development of Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s winning bid for Singapore’s first Integrated Resort at Marina Bay.

Michael Leven, president and COO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., said, “With his deep insights of corporate Asia, organizational leadership expertise and experience in developing a world-class integrated resort from the ground up, George was the perfect choice for us. As our first employee in Singapore, George was instrumental in Las Vegas Sands’ successful bid for the Marina Bay Integrated Resort. Throughout Marina Bay Sands’ construction and opening phases, George continued to impress us with his sharp business and legal mind, familiarity with the operating framework in Singapore, and reassuring presence. He has been a steady and strong force for the company since day one, and we are proud to have him lead Marina Bay Sands to even greater heights.”

Prior to joining Marina Bay Sands in 2005, Tanasijevich was based in Macau as director of development, responsible for the coordination of various commercial activities related to Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s Cotai Strip projects. Tanasijevich previously also served as senior vice president of Equity Markets at CapitaLand Limited in Singapore, Southeast Asia’s largest real estate and hospitality conglomerate. 

Axel Bartkus will take over the management of Messe Düsseldorf Group’s two Chinese subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Shanghai. He succeeds Tony Fung, who retires as the founding managing director of both corporations. 

Managing Messe Düsseldorf China Bartkus will assume representation for Messe Düsseldorf, recruiting and serving Chinese exhibitors and visitors at trade fairs organized by the Messe Düsseldorf Group.  Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai Ltd. will continue to organize the extensive portfolio of events of Messe Düsseldorf in China.

 “With Axel Bartkus, we have been able to recruit an excellent China expert for our company. Together with the trade fair teams in Düsseldorf and China, he will use his extensive know-how to expand the event portfolio and develop new topics in China,” said Werner M. Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. 

Bartkus holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and Chinese and previously managed the division of trade fairs and exhibitions at the German Chamber of Foreign Trade in Shanghai, served as managing director at NürnbergMesse Chinafor several years and recently held the position of director of the Asia Desk for NürnbergMesse.

SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited Chairman Rod McGeoch announced the company’s succession plan for the chairman of the board and also the appointment, effective immediately, of a deputy chairman.

McGeoch said at last year’s annual meeting that he would be retiring from his role as chairman and as a director at the 2012 annual meeting. McGeoch was appointed a SKYCITY director in September 2002 and the company’s chairman in April 2004.

“The next 15 months are all about our growth phase – the opportunities we have in Auckland and Adelaide in particular,” McGeoch said. “This is a very important time for the Board and it is better to deal with succession now so as to allow the Board to give its full focus to this growth phase knowing my successor is well in place.” 

The SKYCITY Board unanimously has decided to select Chris Moller as the next chairman, subject to his re-election by shareholders at the 2011 annual meeting, effective upon McGeoch’s retirement next year’s annual meeting. The Board also unanimously has appointed Adelaide-based Bruce Carter to the role of deputy chairman, effective immediately.