Haier Asia International Co., an Asian sales arm of China's Haier Group Co., said Wednesday Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc. Executive Officer Yoshiaki Ito will assume its presidency as of Saturday to take over from Du Jingguo.

Ito, 44, with a track record of posting good sales of home-use film titles during his years at SPE, is experienced in selling merchandise to Asian consumers, according to the Osaka-based company that has overseen Haier's sales and production in Japan and Asia.

Ito will lead Haier Asia's marketing efforts in Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam to bolster sales of white goods consumer electronics, it said.