AVIA Elects K. Aravamudhan and Vivek Couto as New Board Directors

By Pickle December 10, 2025

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has announced the election of two new Board Directors, strengthening leadership as the Asia Pacific video sector navigates rapid digital transformation and regulatory changes. K. Aravamudhan, Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Legal at JioStar, and Vivek Couto, Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Director of Media Partners Asia, bring decades of combined experience in content strategy, policy frameworks, and regional market dynamics.

The election comes as AVIA confirmed the re-election of four existing directors: Emily Yri (Vice President, International Marketing, Pubmatic), Desmond Chan (GM–TVBI & Deputy GM Legal & Int’l Operations, TVB), Joe Welch (Vice President, Global Public Policy Asia Pacific, The Walt Disney Company), and Shonali Bedi (Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Insights–APAC, Warner Bros. Discovery).

The New Directors

K. Aravamudhan brings extensive expertise in public policy and legal frameworks across the Asia Pacific region. At JioStar, Aravamudhan oversees policy and regulatory matters, positioning him to guide AVIA through complex compliance and governance challenges affecting the video industry across diverse Asian markets.

Vivek Couto, Co-Founder and CEO of Media Partners Asia, has established himself as a leading industry analyst and strategist. His research-driven approach and deep understanding of media market dynamics across Asia Pacific inform strategic planning and competitive intelligence for the region’s video ecosystem.

The Re-elected Directors

Emily Yri at Pubmatic leads international marketing strategy and brings expertise in monetization and cross-border expansion for digital video platforms. Her marketing acumen strengthens AVIA’s efforts to position the region’s video industry globally.

Desmond Chan of TVB combines operational expertise with legal and international affairs experience. As both General Manager of TVBI and Deputy General Manager of Legal & International Operations, Chan bridges traditional broadcast and digital video sectors while navigating complex regulatory environments.

Joe Welch represents Disney’s strategic interests in Asia Pacific public policy. His focus on global policy frameworks ensures alignment between international content standards and regional regulatory developments affecting the video industry.

Shonali Bedi at Warner Bros. Discovery leads strategy, partnerships, and data-driven insights across Asia Pacific. Her background in audience analytics and strategic partnership development informs AVIA’s approach to member collaboration and market intelligence.

Expanded Leadership for Industry Advocacy

“The newly elected and re-elected directors bring extensive expertise across content strategy, international marketing, public policy, legal frameworks, and data-driven insights,” AVIA said in a statement. “Their collective experience offers a broad spectrum of perspectives to guide AVIA’s work during a period of rapid transformation and opportunity for the video ecosystem.”

The expanded board reflects AVIA’s commitment to advancing industry advocacy, supporting regional collaboration, and shaping policy dialogue across Asian markets. Both new directors bring specialized knowledge essential to the current regulatory environment, addressing the complex challenges of growth monetization, consumer behavior, and evolving digital business models.

AVIA also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing directors Agnes Rozario, Chief Content Officer at Astro, and Greg Armshaw, former Senior Director Strategy APAC at Brightcove. Their tenure supported AVIA through significant phases of industry change.

About AVIA’s Role

The Asia Video Industry Association serves as the trade association for the video industry across Asia Pacific, advocating for the common interests of its members and serving as the primary interlocutor between the industry and regional governments. AVIA leads the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) to combat video piracy and produces research and conferences supporting a vibrant, sustainable video industry.