BIOGRAPHIES
Michael T. Fries, Chairman
Mr Fries is a member of the Remuneration Committee and was previously Executive Chairman and member of the Audit and Risk Committee of AUSTAR. Currently, Mr Fries is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Global, Inc. (“Liberty Global”), appointed when Liberty Global was formed in June 2005 through the merger of Liberty Media International, Inc. (LMI) and UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. (UGC). He served as President and CEO of UGC from January 2004 after holding several senior management positions since shortly after the company’s formation in 1990. From 1990 to 1995, he managed UGC’s global development activities and oversaw expansion into Europe, Asia/Pacific and Latin America. In 1995, Mr. Fries became head of the company’s Asia/Pacific operations, where he oversaw the formation and management of Austar Entertainment Pty Ltd, until his promotion to President and Chief Operating Officer of UGC in September 1998. Mr. Fries is a member of Liberty Global’s board of directors and its Executive Committee. Mr. Fries holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. He is a member of the Governor of Colorado’s Commission on Science & Technology, Young President’s Organization (YPO) and active in several local charitable foundations.
Timothy D. Downing, Deputy Chairman
Appointed to the Board in June 1999. Member of the Audit and Risk, and Remuneration Committees. Since 1984, worked in the finance industry, principally in investment banking and private equity. Since 1989, principal in a number of companies that manage private equity funds in the media and communications sector, including the Fulcrum Group and the Australasian Media & Communications Fund. During this time has served as director of NBN Television Limited Telecasters Australia Limited, The Becker Group Limited and a number of other public and privately held companies.
John C. Porter, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
John C Porter has been the Chief Executive Officer of AUSTAR, which has provided subscription television services to over 502,312 customers in regional and rural Australia, including Hobart and Darwin, since 1995. Mr Porter also serves on the Board of Directors for AUSTAR. Mr Porter was Managing Director of Austar Entertainment Pty Limited from July 1997 to December 1999. From January 1997 to August 1999, he also served as the Chief Operating Officer of United Asia Pacific, Inc. (“UAP”). Mr Porter led the establishment of AUSTAR in 1995, and by doing so also played an integral role in the development of Australia’s subscription television industry. He was responsible for the design and deployment of the company’s multi-channel/multi-point distribution system/satellite/cable television network. In April 2005 Mr Porter won his industry’s highest accolade when he was voted by his peers to receive the award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Subscription Television by the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association. Prior to joining AUSTAR, Mr Porter spent 10 years in various senior management capacities for Time Warner Cable, a subsidiary of Time Warner, Inc. Mr Porter has more than 20 years of management experience in the US and Australian subscription television industries. Mr Porter serves as a director on the Board of the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association, and was the Chairman in 2003. Mr Porter is married, with four children.
John W. Dick, Director
A Corporate Board Member and Executive for numerous companies, both public and private in the U.S.A., Canada, England, Holland, Germany, China and Russia, involving real estate construction and development, the manufacture of the London Metrocab, the cross-channel ferry industry, the international cable T.V. industry and oil and gas production. Since 1964, worked in the field of law in Denver, Colorado. A member of the American Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association and American Trial Lawyers Association since 1967. Received a B.A. in 1959 from Wheaton College, Illinois, majoring in Political Science and Economics, and an LL.B from the University of Toronto.
Roger M. Amos, Director
Appointed to the Board in May 2008, Mr Amos is Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee. Mr Amos is the Chairman of Proteome Systems Limited, a director and Audit Committee Chairman of realestate.com.au Limited and Espreon Limited, all of which are publicly listed Australian companies. He also holds a non-executive role as Asia Pacific Chairman for Management Consulting Group PLC. Mr Amos' prior roles include Deputy Chairman and Audit Committee Chairman of the Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited. Mr Amos retired in 2006 after 25 years as a Partner in the Assurance and Risk Advisory Service Division of KPMG, where he focused on the Information, Communication and Entertainment Industry (ICE). He held various senior roles in the KPMG Global ICE practice including Chairman of the Global Communications Industry Group. Mr Amos has extensive experience in the television broadcast and production industry where he has been involved with a range of leading listed and unlisted companies. Mr Amos is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Shane O'Neill, Director
Appointed as non-executive director on 5 January 2006. Currently Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Liberty Global Inc. (Liberty Global). Mr O’Neill oversees Liberty Global’s strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions and corporate development activities. In addition, he is President of chellomedia – Liberty Global’s content and services division - which also invests in third-party cable operators and TV channels. Prior to joining Liberty Global in 1999, Mr O’Neill worked at Goldman Sachs in its New York, Sydney and London offices, most recently based in London as an Executive Director in the Advisory Group where he was responsible for providing advice on mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance to companies in the media and communications industry, including UPC. Mr O’Neill also spent four years at Macquarie Bank in Sydney, Australia, and three years at KPMG. Mr O’Neill is also an adviser to INSEAD’s Media and Technology Board. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and received a Law degree from Trinity College Dublin.
