Cable and Wireless Plc has appointed a top television executive to take charge of its 49%-owned Australian subsidiary Optus Communications Inc, which has been losing money heavily after problems with its pay TV operations. Chris Anderson will take over as chief executive from his current position as chief executive of Television New Zealand. And in a further move to get to grips with problems there, Rod Olsen, deputy chief executive of Cable and Wireless and chairman of its Asia Pacific Development Board, is to relocate to Sydney, Australia next year. Optus, which is designed to be the regional hub of the company’s activities in the Asia Pacific region, reported a loss equivalent to 188m pounds in the year to June 30 after a 193m pound charge from its loss-making Optus Vision Pay TV unit.
