The US-headquartered Motion Picture Association (MPA), a trade body representing top film, television and streaming studios, has upgraded and expanded the Singapore-based Trevor Fernandes’ role within the organisation’s APAC setup.

According to a LinkedIn post made by MPA yesterday, Fernandes was stepping up as Deputy Managing Director and Head of Policy & Government Affairs, APAC.

In this role, he will lead the MPA‘s APAC headquarters in Singapore and broaden regional management, while continuing his work as Senior Vice President. “Reporting to Urmila Venugopalan (MPA APAC’s Managing Director), Trevor’s leadership is key to our mission of supporting the creative economy across the region,” the post added.

Till the elevation, Fernandes served as the Senior Vice President, Government Affairs of the Asia-Pacific Region for the Motion Picture Association – International (MPA-I) whose global mission is to advance and support the film, television and streaming content industry.

Working directly with local stakeholders, government bodies and regulatory agencies, Fernandes was responsible for developing and advocating policy initiatives which advance the MPA studios’ interests in market access and investment while promoting and protecting creators’ rights.

An experienced international studio executive, he has broad commercial, business affairs, and finance expertise including 15 years in the Asia Pacific region focused on building partnerships with theatrical exhibitors, content distribution and technology providers, and content creators.

He joined the MPA-I after a 16-year career at Twentieth Century Fox International where he was the Vice President of APAC Finance and Business Operations based in Singapore. He was instrumental in Fox’s activities related to the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding for theatrical revenue-share films in China and the subsequent implementation of agreements and audit rights under the MOU. He was also closely involved in resolving disputes over customs duty valuation of film imports in countries such as Indonesia.