Urmila Venugopalan named MPA APAC president as Belinda Lui steps down after five years

The president and MD of APAC’s Motion Picture Association (MPA) Belinda Lui is stepping down after five years in the regional role.

Belinda Lui

Lui will be succeeded by Urmila Venugopalan who currently serves as exec VP of strategy and global operations. The change of guard is effective from January 31.

In her new role, Venugopalan will be tasked with expanding access to local markets and promoting production in new areas, in addition to other advocacy activities across the region including working with the MPA’s anti-piracy arm.

Venugopalan will be based in Tokyo and report to MPA senior vice president, global policy & government affairs Gail MacKinnon.

Prior to joining the MPA, Venugopalan served as a member of the policy planning staff at the US state department in Washington and as a senior consultant at the Albright Stonebridge group.

Lui, who has a 30-year career across entertainment and law will be seeking opportunities as an independent non-executive director and spending more time with her family.