MUMBAI: Former Star group COO Bruce Churchill is assuming greater responsibility within Hughes Electronics following Murdoch's News Corp's 34 per cent aquisition of the company. He has been appointed to Panamsat's board of directors. Hughes has an 81 per cent stake in Panamsat.

Hughes had recently appointed him as the company's CFO. Churchill is responsible for the company's overall financial operations, as well as overseeing the operations of Directv Latin America. Last May Churchill had left Star as its president and COO after serving for three years in that capacity and moved back to Los Angeles. His role was to oversee the future operations of Hughes as a member of its transition team.

Meanwhile Panamsat also announced that Chase Carey will be its board chairman. Previously Carey was News Corp's co-COO and Sky Global Networks president and CEO until his resignation in January 2002. He also served as chairman and CEO of the Fox Television Group until 2001.

During his tenure at News Corp Carey played a central role in managing the operations and strategy with a particular focus on its worldwide television business that encompasses the Fox network, Fox Television Stations, Fox Cable Programming Group and News Corp's international satellite operations.

Satellite operator Panamsat manages a global fleet of 30 satellites, 25 of which are wholly-owned by the Company. They deliver news, sports and other television programming. In total this fleet claims to be capable of reaching over 98 per cent of the world's population through cable television systems, broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers and telecommunications companies.