GENE Swinstead, formerly general manager of the South China Morning Post , has been appointed deputy general manager of STAR TV, it was announced yesterday.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp took a majority stake in the dominant satellite broadcaster in Asia last summer. STAR TV's chief executive Gary Davey said Mr Swinstead would take up his new position immediately.

Before leaving the South China Morning Post , Mr Swinstead was general manager of the Herald & Weekly Times in Melbourne and managing director of the Fuji Times .