Henry Tan Poh Hock
Group Chief Executive Officer
Malaysian / Male / 56
Henry joined our Group on 2 May 2008 as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed Chief Executive Officer on 1 February 2019. He was redesignated as Group Chief Executive Officer on 1 April 2020 and has been the Chairman of Go Shop, Astro’s commerce platform, since 28 April 2014.
Under Henry’s leadership, Astro revamped its customer viewing experience with the launch of the Ultra Box, offering 4K UHD, Cloud Recording and a personalised and seamless viewing journey extending over to Astro GO. Understanding the importance of streaming services, he drove strategic collaborations with HBO GO and iQIYI, presenting customers with greater choice and content. Henry played a key role in introducing Malaysians to high definition (HD) viewing with Astro B.yond and launched the first free multichannel satellite service, NJOI.
Over his 12 years with the company, Henry helped build Astro into a content powerhouse by focusing on creating innovative original vernacular IPs, marketing of content brands and aggregating the best programmes for customers. This led to the successful and hugely popular Malay comedy franchise, ‘Lawak’ and must-have Hokkien entertainment, ‘Hua Hee’. Under his watch Astro grew its share of TV Adex from 11% to 43% and Radio Adex from 64% to 80%. Whilst he launched many firsts, including Tutor TV, Malaysia’s first free academic learning channels; Astro First, a cinema in your home service; and eGG Network, the first regional eSports channel, his focus on digital has made Gempak, SYOK, AWANI, Stadium Astro, Xuan, Ulagam and ZAYAN the staple digital brands for Malaysians.
He was instrumental in changing the face of storytelling and marketing of local films with Astro, having been involved in seven of Malaysia’s Top 10 local films of all time, including Ola Bola, The Journey, Polis Evo, Paskal, BoBoiBoy Movie 2 and Hantu Kak Limah. It was also this belief in local stories that led Henry to executive produce The Garden Of Evening Mists, which became the first Malaysian film to earn nine nominations at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards.
Henry was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Mindshare Malaysia and GroupM (Malaysia and Singapore). Prior to that, he held the position of Media Director, Ogilvy & Mather and General Manager, HVD Entertainment.
He holds degrees in Business (Marketing) and Arts (Communications) from Chisholm Institute of Technology Australia (now known as Monash University).