THERE has been a comprehensive re-shuffle of management at Myanmar Consolidated Media, publishers of The Myanmar Times.

CEO Ross Dunkley said the company was preparing for changes to the political landscape as the government moves towards elections in 2010.

“We are continuing to receive assurances from government that the transition from a military-run system to a democracy of sorts is on track. As such we can only assume that in the coming times, political parties will be formed and that an election, scheduled for 2010 will take place,” he said.

“That’s not far away, and while we have been immensely distracted by the catastrophe of cyclone Nargis, we can now focus more closely on the historic political reform about to take place in Myanmar”

“Our senior management has been informed our ambition to turn The Myanmar Times into daily newspapers is taken seriously. Potentially, that’s all good news, and not just for us but for all leading players in the media sector,” he said

“All round there are brigh spots appearing on the horizon and I believe this is an appropriate time to make changes in the way we are managing the company so we continue to be well prepared for exciting times ahead. Just as the government is evolving, so must we.”

“I am therefore instituting management changes so that more and more it is Myanmar people who are running the business of MCM and they are the best equipped to do so,” he said.

The company has now given specific responsibilities to its four-man executive management committee. U Myint Maung, while continuing to manage the company’s commercial print facility, will now become the senior member of the committee.

U Zaw Myint has been promoted to the position of Editor – The Myanmar Times (Myanmar), while U Myo Lwin will be the editor in charge of special features which run in publishing both editions of the paper.

U Wai Linn has been appointed the General Manager of the company’s two bureaus in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw as well as the editor in charge of the company’s non core assets, Crime Journal and NOW Magazine.

Mr Dunkley said that in the future he would focus more closely on preparing the ground for expansion of the company’s activities.

Other changes at the company include the appointment of U Win Nyunt Lwin to Deputy Editor (Myanmar). U Min Zaw Oo replaces U Soe Than Linn as the company’s Mandalay bureau chief becomes an editor at large.

Within The Myanmar Times U Tin Moe Aung has been appointed Chief of Staff (News) and Daw Su Myat Sandi Oo becomes Chief of Staff (Administration).
Norah Anne Pass becomes the new project manager of Now Magazine.
Recently Linn Linn Soe Lwin has been promoted to Manager of Sales & Marketing.

“All in all we have attempted to promote younger members of our team. They are our future as we continue to expand under expectation of exciting times ahead. We have a policy of promoting according to talent and effort, not on length of time at the company and we continue to be an equal opportunity employer,” said Mr Dunkley.