HONG KONG – Robert Odendaal is to step down as CEO of Malaysian pay-TV giant Astro All Asia Networks with effect from April 15.

          Odendaal, who has been in the job only since Jan 2007, says his resignation was brought about by "personal and lifestyle" reasons.

          Astro, which has a footprint spanning much of South East Asia, will seek a replacement. In the short term his responsibilities will be taken on by executive deputy chairman Ralph Marshall.

          "AAAN is a world-class pay-TV ad media company with performance metrics that benchmark strongly by any standard of excellence. My decision to leave is based on lifestyle decisions," he said in a statement.

          A British citizen, Oddendaal was previously CEO of wireless service provider Bell Mobility in Canada, CEO of pay-TV operator Bell ExpressVu and a director of content and new media distribution and products at satcaster BSkyB in the U.K.