Chinese home electronics giant Hisense will separate its television operations from its appliances, the Beijing Times reports. Citing an "authoritative industry insider," the paper reports that Hisense will set up two companies that will operate independently. One will take charge of sales of refrigerators, air conditioners, small home appliances, and communications, to be commanded by Hisense Group vice-president Yang Yunfeng. The other will include the company's television operations and will be led by former vice president of sales Liu Hongxin. Various local branches of Hisense will separate along similar lines.According to a source within Hisense who confirms the above information, the company convened on the day after the Spring Festival to announce this news; post-split positions have already been set. The source said that the move was intended to solidify Hisense's position in the TV marketplace. Other industry analysts said that it was meant to prepare the company to absorb the appliance business of its recently acquired Kelon unit.Separately, Kelon announced that its vice president of domestic sales and its air conditioning unit had stepped down.Link: http://www.bjt.net.cn/news.asp?newsid=136888